ORCID iD

It is important to be able to clearly identify authors of publications. Examples for the need of unambigious identification are authors with the same name, name changes, and when authors change institutions. This unambiguous identification is required to be possible both for individuals when reading a publication and for computers. Unambiguous numeric identifiers, which authors state in addition to their names and instutions (affiliation), have become standard.

ORCID iD logo

Most used is the ORCID iD. It is a non-proprietary and unambigious identifier that consists of 16 digits displayed as blocks of fours (example: 0000-0002-1825-0097). As part of a web address it links to the ORCID profile of a person, which can hold further information about that person and which is independent of the person's institution, thereby allowing to add infomation about affiliation, publications, research data, academic positions and similar.

The use of an ORCID iD has become an international de facto standard for the identification of authors. All scientists of Humboldt-Universität are encouraged to have an ORCID iD and use it when publishing, submitting grant applications, and in similar cases.

How to register and create an ORCID iD

1. Register an ORCID iD in a few steps
2. Add information to the ORCID profile, connect other identifiers (such as Scopus Author ID or Researcher ID) if existent, set privacy preferences for the entire profile or individual pieces of information
3. Create a list of your publications by import (for example from Google Scholar, Web of Science, CrossRef, BASE) or by manual addition
4. Use the ORCID iD on your own website, when submitting grant applications or manuscripts, on your business card, and so forth

Benefits

• unambigious identification of a person (also in the case of multiple persons with the same name, name changes, or differing spelling of a name)
• unambigious attribution of biography and individual research output (such as publications, research data, software)
• automated creation of publication lists (optional)
• data privacy
• easier communication with research funding institutions, academic societies, publishers and repositories (for example when submitting grant applications or manuscripts, or when registering for a conference)
• simplified monitoring of research outputs of universities, departments, institutes and research groups

Data privacy

Privacy of data is an essential principle of ORCID. Users have full control over which information they add and over which information is visible for only oneself, trusted parties or the public. Only the name and the identifier (the ORCID iD) are always visible publicly.

ORCID, the organisation behind the ORCID iD

ORCID is the organisation responsible for assigning the ORCID iD. ORCID is non-profit and driven by the scientific community. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is an official member of ORCID.

Further information

Further information and support for using ORCID can be found on ORCID's official website and on the website of the project ORCID DE which promotes the use of ORCID in Germany.

Furthermore, the website of Charité lists answers to frequently asked questions about ORCID.

Use at Humboldt-Universität

At Humboldt-Universität the use and display of an ORCID iD is integrated on the repository (edoc-Server) and the research information system. It is also possible to log-in to ORCID via a HU account. Other applications are in preparation.

Humboldt-Universität is an official member of ORCID.