Many researchers discover a problem during conference or journal submission: their name is not uniquely identifiable, or their publications are split across multiple profiles.
This is where an ORCID iD becomes essential. This guide explains what an ORCID iD is, why it matters for conference submissions, and how to register one in minutes.
What is an ORCID iD?
ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a unique, persistent 16-digit digital identifier in the format: https://orcid.org/0000-0000-0000-0000.
It distinguishes you from other researchers and connects your work—such as publications, grants, and peer review activities—across platforms and publishers.
Why Do You Need an ORCID iD?
Many conferences and publishers (including IEEE, Springer, and Nature portfolios) now require or strongly recommend ORCID iDs during submission.
Having an ORCID iD helps you:
- eliminate name ambiguity and ensure proper credit
- link your publications across systems automatically
- simplify submission forms (auto-fill author data)
- maintain a consistent academic identity
- connect with indexing systems such as Scopus and Web of Science
How to Register an ORCID iD (Step-by-Step)
Registering for an ORCID iD is free and takes less than five minutes. Follow these three steps:
Step 1: Visit the Official Website
Go to the official ORCID registration page. You will be asked to provide your name and primary email address.
Step 2: Set Your Privacy Settings
You can choose who can see your information:
- Everyone (Public): Your data is visible to anyone. This is recommended for maximum visibility and better citation tracking.
- Trusted Parties: Only organizations you grant permission to (like your university or a publisher) can see the data.
- Only Me (Private): Only you can see your data. Note that this may limit the usefulness of your iD in submission systems.
Step 3: Confirm and Complete
Check your inbox for a verification email. Once verified, you will receive your unique 16-digit iD (e.g., 0000-0001-2345-6789). You can now start adding your education, employment history, and past publications to your profile.
Best Practices for Managing Your ORCID Profile
- Use a Professional Email: While you can use a university email, adding a secondary personal email ensures you never lose access to your account if you change jobs.
- Link Your Works: Use the "Search & Link" tool within ORCID to import your papers from Scopus, Crossref, and other databases.
- Include it in Your Signature: Add your ORCID iD link to your email signature and academic CV to make it easy for collaborators to find your full body of work.
Final Thoughts
An ORCID iD is now a standard part of academic publishing and conference submission workflows. Having one ensures your work is correctly attributed and makes the submission process faster and more reliable.
If you are preparing for conference submissions, it is worth setting up your ORCID profile in advance and ensuring your publication record is up to date.
To find conferences that support structured submission systems and international indexing, platforms such as Aischolar can help you explore suitable venues, track deadlines, and manage your submission planning more efficiently.
