To fill out an ORCID, you first complete a straightforward registration process to obtain your unique identifier, and then actively populate your profile with your professional and research activities.
How Do I Fill Out an ORCID?
An ORCID iD (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a persistent digital identifier that distinguishes you from every other researcher and supports automated linkages between you and your professional activities. Filling out your ORCID involves both the initial registration and the ongoing population of your profile with your research output and biographical information.
1. Registering for Your ORCID iD
The registration process is a quick, five-step procedure designed to get your unique identifier.
Step 1: Names and Emails
You'll start by providing your core identification details.
- Given name (required): Enter the name you most commonly use professionally.
- Family name (required): Your last name.
- Email address (required): Provide at least one email address. It's recommended to add both a personal and institutional email for better account recovery and longevity. You can add more email addresses later.
Step 2: Password
Create a secure password for your ORCID account.
- Password (required): Choose a strong, unique password that includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. This helps protect your account from unauthorized access.
Step 3: Current Employment (Optional Step)
While optional during initial registration, providing employment details is highly recommended to start building your professional profile.
- You'll be asked to provide information about your current institution, department, and start date. This helps connect your ORCID iD to your current affiliations.
Step 4: Visibility Settings
You'll set the default visibility for information added to your ORCID record. You can change these settings later for individual items.
- Public: Anyone on the web can see this information. Ideal for most research outputs and professional details.
- Limited: Only trusted parties (organizations you've granted permission to) and ORCID staff can see this information. Useful for sensitive details or works in progress.
- Private: Only you and ORCID staff can see this information. For very personal details or draft entries.
It's generally recommended to set most of your professional and research information to "Public" to maximize discoverability and impact.
Here's a quick overview of visibility options:
| Visibility Option | Who Can See It? | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Anyone on the internet | Published works, current employment, education |
| Limited | Trusted organizations you authorize, ORCID staff | Funding details, sensitive affiliations |
| Private | Only you and ORCID staff | Internal notes, very personal details |
Step 5: Terms and Conditions
Before completing your registration, you must agree to ORCID's terms and conditions.
- Carefully read and agree to the ORCID Terms and Conditions of Use. This step ensures you understand the policies governing your account and data.
- You will also confirm you are not a robot.
Once these steps are complete, you will receive your unique 16-digit ORCID iD.
2. Populating Your ORCID Profile Beyond Registration
Registering is just the first step. To make your ORCID truly valuable, you need to enrich it with your full range of professional activities and scholarly works.
Add Biographical Information
Enhance your profile with a comprehensive overview of your career:
- Education and Qualifications: List all higher education degrees, including institution, degree type, and dates.
- Employment: Add all past and current employment positions, including institutional roles and dates.
- Distinctions and Awards: Include any significant honors, grants, or recognitions you've received.
- Memberships and Service: Detail your affiliations with professional organizations, committee service, or editorial roles.
- Funding: Link to grants and funding received, often managed through integrations with funder systems.
- Keywords: Add relevant keywords that describe your research interests and expertise to improve discoverability.
- Websites & Social Links: Include links to your personal website, institutional profile, or academic social media (e.g., LinkedIn, ResearchGate).
Add Research Works (Publications, Datasets, etc.)
This is a critical part of filling out your ORCID and can be done in several ways:
- Search & Link Wizard: This is the most efficient method. ORCID integrates with various databases (like Crossref, DataCite, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Europe PubMed Central) allowing you to automatically search for and import your publications and other research outputs directly into your profile.
- Tip: Grant permission to trusted organizations (publishers, institutions) to automatically update your ORCID record. This keeps your profile current with minimal effort.
- Import BibTeX: If you use reference management software (e.g., Zotero, Mendeley), you can export your works in BibTeX format and import them into ORCID.
- Add Manually: For works not found through linking wizards or BibTeX, you can manually enter details for publications, presentations, preprints, datasets, and other contributions.
3. Maintaining Your ORCID Profile
Regularly update your ORCID profile to ensure it remains current and accurate. As you publish new works, change affiliations, or receive new grants, take a few moments to update your record. Using your ORCID iD consistently in all your professional activities (manuscript submissions, grant applications, institutional profiles) helps to automatically link new items to your record.
