How to Use ORCID as a Medical Researcher

ORCID provides a free, persistent digital identifier for researchers, a 16-digit number that distinguishes you from other people with similar names and links you to your works. Many journals and funders ask for it during submission.

Set up

1. Register at the ORCID website with your name and institutional email.
2. Verify your email and add alternative names or spellings of your name.
3. Set privacy for each item (public, trusted parties or only you).
4. Add affiliations, education and funding as appropriate.

Add works

• Import from sources: use the search and link wizards to add works from databases such as Crossref or PubMed, after checking each one.
• Add by DOI or other identifiers.
• Check authorship: include only works you actually authored.
• Grant permissions to trusted organisations, such as journals, to add or update items only if you want to.

Using it

• Enter your ORCID in manuscript submission systems.
• Add your ORCID iD to your CV, email signature and profiles.
• Use it to reduce confusion with others who have a similar name.

Good practice

Keep the record accurate, review connections periodically and do not share your login credentials. If you lose access, use ORCID's recovery process.

Illustrative example

Invented for teaching. A student with a common name creates an ORCID profile, connects her two published abstracts and a journal article, and uses her iD in submissions. Editors can then identify her work and her profile lists only the items she chose to display.

Common pitfalls

• Adding works you did not author.
• Leaving the record empty or outdated.

Key takeaways

• ORCID is a persistent, free identifier for you.
• Keep it accurate and use it consistently. (See also What Is ORCID?)

This page is general educational information about research methods. It is not medical, legal or regulatory advice; follow your institution's ethics board and your target journal's instructions.