ORCID: About ORCID

What is ORCiD?

• An acronymn for Online Research Contributor iD
• it is pronounced “orkid” like the flower.
• It represents a standard unique author identifier that distinguishes you from every other researcher and, through integration in key research workflows such as manuscript and grant submission, supports automated linkages between you and your professional activities ensuring that your work is recognized

Register for an ORCiD

• Go to the ORCiD web site, it takes 30 seconds to establish one that you can begin to use!

As researchers and scholars, you face the ongoing challenge of distinguishing your research activities from those of others with similar names. You need to be able to easily and uniquely attach your identity to research objects such as datasets, equipment, articles, media stories, citations, experiments, patents, and notebooks. As you collaborate across disciplines, institutions and borders, you must interact with an increasing number and diversity of research information systems. Entering data over and over again can be time-consuming, and often frustrating.

ORCID is an open, non-profit, community-driven effort to create and maintain a registry of unique researcher identifiers and a transparent method of linking research activities and outputs to these identifiers. ORCID is unique in its ability to reach across disciplines, research sectors and national boundaries. It is a hub that connects researchers and research through the embedding of ORCID identifiers in key workflows, such as research profile maintenance, manuscript submissions, grant applications, and patent applications.  

ORCID provides two core functions: (1) a registry to obtain a unique identifier and manage a record of activities, and (2) APIs that support system-to-system communication and authentication. ORCID makes its code available under an open source license, and will post an annual public data file under a CC0 waiver for free download.  

The ORCID Registry is available free of charge to individuals, who may obtain an ORCID identifier, manage their record of activities, and search for others in the Registry. Organizations may become members to link their records to ORCID identifiers, to update ORCID records, to receive updates from ORCID, and to register their employees and students for ORCID identifiers. 

ORCID records hold non-sensitive information such as name, email, organization and research activities. ORCID understands the fundamental need for individuals to control how their data are shared, and provides tools to manage data privacy. We take steps to protect your information, consistent with the principles set forth in our Privacy Policy, which are intended to comply with the Safe Harbor Principles issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

It takes about 30 seconds to register for your ORCID iD. Once you have your ID number there are 5 areas that you can add information to: Personal Information, Education, Employment, Funding and Works.

The first three areas will need to be edited manually. There are tools in Funding and Works to help you import information.  Take a few minutes to add your personal information, education and employment. It is important to distinguish yourself and improve the functionality of the ORCID search and link wizards, namely any of your name variations, multiple email addresses, and organizational affiliations.

Next use the import wizards available in Funding and Works. The Funding section uses UberWizard for ORCID, a product of UberResearch. UberResearch includes worldwide grant data but importantly includes US federal funding informations from organizations like the NIH and NSF. It is also possible to add funding information manually if you cannot find it listed in UberResearch.

There are many ways to import works into ORCID. Below are three that are particularly useful:

* CrossRef Metadata Search - searches CrossRefs metadata on journal articles, conference proceedings and books. Select from search results and import into ORCID. This system does not require registration.

* Researcher ID - This requires you to have a ResearcherID from Thomson Reuters / Web of Science. Once you've created a ResearcherID on their system, you can link it to your ORCID profile.

* Scopus to ORCID - This requires you to have a SCOPUS ID. The Caltech Library does not subscribe to Scopus but you can still register for a Scopus ID, claim your works, and easily import them into your ORCID profile.

 Finally, to make the most of your ORCID iD, use it!

• More details

Author and researcher privacy is a fundamental principle of ORCID: "Researchers control the defined privacy settings of their own ORCID record data."  ORCID provides you three settings: Public, Limited or Private

Public

Information marked as "Public" can be viewed by anyone who comes to the ORCID.org website or consumed by anyone using the ORCID public API.  Data marked as public will also be included in the public data file posted annually by ORCID.

Limited

Information marked as "Limited" can be seen by any Trusted Parties that you have authorized to connect to your ORCID Record. These connections require explicit action on your part. You will be asked if you would like to make a specific connection, and once you have confirmed, the Trusted Party will be able to see information that you have marked as limited-access.

Private

Information marked as "Private" can only be seen by you. It is also used by ORCID algorithms to help distinguish your identity from another person who may have a similar name, be in a similar field, or may be confused with you for other reasons. This information is not shared with others.

JPL Librarians

• Sara Bond
• Dudee Chiang
• Camille Mathieu

JPL Library email: library@jpl.nasa.gov

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