Researcher IDs

By creating a personal researcher identifier (ID), you enhance the findability of your publications and research visibility, and make it easier to monitor references to your work.

An identifier is useful in many instances: with manuscripts, when peer reviewing, on websites, in social media, in CV, in presentations, etc. This ensures findability and visibility in databases and networking within scientific communities.

ORCID has been recommended as a national researcher ID in Finland, but also other identifiers, such as Researcher ID, Scopus Author ID and ISNI, can be used.

ORCID

ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a signature that can be used on everything from online publications to research data, websites, blogs and social media to CVs and emails.

ORCID provides a persistent digital identifier (an ORCID iD) that you own and control, and that distinguishes you from every other researcher. ORCID ensures that researchers’ contributions are easily discoverable and connected to their identities, even if their names change or if they move between institutions. A number of publishers already require at least the corresponding authors to have an ORCID ID.

ORCID logo.

ORCID aims to solve common issues such as:

  • Not getting credit for your research because your name is common or because you have published using a different version of your name.
  • Struggling to find a central place to keep track of all your research outputs.
  • Having to spend time entering the same information over and over in publisher and grant submission systems.

What is ORCID?

  • Unique, persistent identifier for researchers.
  • Open, non-profit community-driven organisation.
  • Discipline-neutral and not tied to any particular platform or publisher.

Benefits:

  • Improves discoverability.
  • Connects your work.
  • Eliminates name ambiguity.
  • Stays with you throughout your career.
  • Reduces time spent on repetitive data entry by pulling information from other sources.

Where to use ORCID?

  • Manuscript submission
  • Grant applications
  • Professional society memberships
  • Linked to your other profiles
  • Display on your CV, web profiles, presentations, posters, and more
  • For example, you can use Research.fi (in Finnish, Tiedejatutkimus.fi), a service offered by the Ministry of Education and Culture. It collects and shares information on research conducted in Finland. The service improves the location of information and experts on research and increases the visibility and societal impact of Finnish research. Using the Researcher’s Profile Tool, you can compile a public profile in the Research.fi service from information in your ORCID profile and your home organisations. In the tool, you can preview the information before it is published and select only the information that you want to be part of your profile. Instructions in English (Ohjeet suomeksi).

In a nutshell, ORCID just makes your life easier.

In the future, use ORCID when submitting manuscripts to journals. ORCID eases maintaining your publication record. Also, for instance, finding publications of a research group on databases is much easier if all researchers have ORCID.  

To do

  1. Watch the video (4:16): What is ORCID?
  2. Create your own ORCID iD. Update your profile (e.g. upload your publication information and add your education and work experience).
  3. Search some of your colleagues from ORCID. Do they have ORCID profiles? Search also “John Smith”. You will understand one reason why ORCID is important.

Other IDs for researchers

  • Scopus ID is a unique identifier assigned to researchers by the Elsevier-owned abstract and citation database Scopus. Scopus tracks researchers’ publications and citations, allowing for them to be easily discovered and analyzed.
  • Researcher ID is similar to Scopus ID, but it is owned and operated by Clarivate Analytics. Researcher ID allows researchers to create a unique profile and track their publications and citations, and it integrates with Web of Science and InCites.
  • While Scopus ID and Researcher ID are specific to their respective databases, ORCID is more universal and can be used across multiple platforms and systems. However, researchers may choose to link their ORCID with their Scopus ID or Researcher ID to ensure that their research outputs are easily discoverable across these platforms.

Read more about Researcher ID, Scopus Author ID and ISNI.

Further information:

(8/2024 KH)

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