Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

What's ORCID?

ORCID is an open, non-profit, community-based effort to create and maintain a registry of unique research identifiers and a transparent method of linking research activities and outputs to these identifiers. ORCID's global community of organizational members include research organizations, publishers, funders, professional associations, and other stakeholders in the research ecosystem

ORCID provides a standard unique author identifier--an ORCID iD--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. Find more information about ORCID on their website.

There are currently more than 5 million live ORCID iDs connected to 33 million total works activities.

Prevents authorship confusion

With your ORCID iD, it's easier to distinguish your work from other researchers, and your work is recognized and not easily confused with work by others with the same name. (i.e. Gary White, Mary Smith).

Saves time and effort

Registering for an ORCID creates a profile page containing a summary of all your research outputs, and this list is automatically updated through integration with other information systems such as OCLC and CrossRef. To make sharing your profile page easier, ORCID can generate a QR code that directs people to your profile page, which you could use on research posters, stickers, or more!     

Keeps you current with publishing requirements

Publishers are integrating ORCID into manuscript submission and author/reviewer databases. A complete list can be found on ORCID's website. ORCID supporters include all of the major science and technology publishers, including Elsevier, Wiley, Nature, Thomsen Reuters, and more, You are encouraged to use your ORCID iD when you submit research output to Colorado State University's institutional repository, Mountain Scholar. 

Registration takes less than a minute. Go to the ORCID website to register now.  

After registering, ORCID has a few tips on the next steps and how to make the most of your ORCID iD.