Overview
ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is an organization that assigns permanent numerical identifiers to uniquely identify individual researchers and their work. ORCID reaches across all disciplines, research sectors, and national boundaries. ORCID iDs are also used to create and maintain research profiles, as well as in manuscript submissions, grant applications, and patent applications.
ORCID is funded by institutional members, including the Georgetown University Library.
To register for a unique ORCID identifier, go to the ORCID registration page and follow the directions.
What is an ORCID iD?
An ORCID iD is a 16-digit number assigned by the ORCID Registry free of charge to individual researchers. Your ORCID iD is a unique identifier that is attached to your research so that all of your work is connected to you, regardless of how your name appears and whether other researchers have the same or similar names.
Why should I have an ORCID iD?
1. No Ambiguity in What Works are Yours
Your ORCID iD distinguishes you and ensures your research outputs and activities are correctly attributed to you. You will use the same ORCID iD throughout your career regardless of any change in your name, institution, country, field of study, etc. Your ORCID iD is associated with your ORCID record which includes information about your professional work.
2. Works in Many Places & Reduces Time Filling Out Forms
ORCID iDs are interoperable and persistent, so after you've created an iD and entered data once, you'll be able to use it to populate that data into many other places across institutions, funders and publishers.
3. Fulfills the Requirement for a Digital Persistent Identifier
Section 4(b)(v) of the National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) directs that “Consistent with applicable Federal laws and statutory authorities, within 1 year of the date of this memorandum, funding agencies shall establish policies regarding requirements for individual researchers supported by or working on any Federal research grant to be registered with a service that provides a digital persistent identifier for that individual.” ORCID iDs are one such digital persistent identifier. An ORCID iD may also be recommended or required for manuscript submissions and non-federal grant applications.
