Registering and Connecting your ORCID iD

Prior to submitting your dissertation or thesis, you may wish to register for an ORCID iD if you have not already done so. An ORCID iD is a unique researcher identifier that you can use throughout your career. Having an ORCID iD is not required, but it is recommended if you plan to continue to do research after you graduate.

Registering an ORCID iD

If you don’t have an ORCID iD yet, you can register at orcid.org.

Connecting your ORCID iD

If you do have an ORCID iD, you can connect your ORCID iD to your SUNet ID and authorize Stanford to update your ORCID account.

If you register for an ORCID profile and link your profile to your Stanford account prior to submitting your dissertation or thesis, your dissertation will automatically be added to your ORCID profile, and your ORCID iD will appear in the record for your dissertation or thesis in the Stanford Digital Repository.

Need more information? Additional information can be found in Stanford Libraries’ guide to ORCID.

More about ORCID iDs

What is an ORCID iD?

ORCID stands for Open Researcher and Contributor ID. An ORCID iD is a unique researcher identifier that can be used to track and aggregate your research output, even if you move to another institution or change your name. Some publishers and journals require contributors to have ORCID iDs.

Once you register for an ORCID iD, you will be listed in the ORCID registry, and you will be able to add works and education and employment details to your ORCID profile. As an example, here is the ORCID profile of a Stanford Libraries staff member.

Why should I get an ORCID iD?

An ORCID iD is not required in order to submit your dissertation or thesis, but it is recommended if you plan to continue to do research after you graduate. An ORCID iD will make it easy to aggregate your publications under a single identifier, and it may be required by publishers and funding bodies. If you register for an ORCID profile and link your profile to your Stanford account prior to submitting your dissertation or thesis, your ORCID iD will appear on the public Stanford Digital Repository page for your dissertation or thesis, as in this example of a thesis with an ORCID iD attached. Your dissertation or thesis will also automatically appear on your ORCID profile.

What if I get an ORCID iD after I submit my dissertation or thesis?

If you wait to get an ORCID until after submitting your dissertation or thesis, your dissertation or thesis won’t automatically be added to your ORCID profile. If you wish to add it, you’ll need to manually edit your ORCID profile. In addition, an ORCID iD created post-submission will not appear on the Stanford Digital Repository public web page for your dissertation or thesis.

What if I have an ORCID iD but I don’t want my dissertation or thesis listed on my ORCID profile?

You can remove any work from your ORCID profile at any time.