NIH to Require ORCID Identifiers for Trainees and Fellows to Link Science Contributions over Their Careers

Research careers often start with a student’s first laboratory experience, which is guided by a professor; these experiences can spark a lifetime quest for understanding how things work and why. Young investigators travel on this quest for learning and conduct research – as graduate and then as postdoctoral fellows – before launching an independent career, often as an assistant professor. Having the ability to connect research contributions over time, and over laboratory and institution experiences, is the goal of the non-profit organization ORCID.   

With this in mind, in fiscal year 2020, NIH – joined by CDC and AHRQ – will begin requiring individuals supported by training, fellowship, career development, and other research education awards to have an ORCID iD linked to their personal electronic Research Administration (eRA) account (NOT-OD-19-109). In short, by leveraging ORCID investigators, fellows, and trainees can focus on moving their innovative scientific research ideas forward instead of spending time and effort updating federal user profiles with every new change, be it different federal granting agencies or new institutions.

To learn more about this initiative, please visit the recent blog post by NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research Dr. Michael Lauer, “Linking ORCID Identifiers to eRA Profiles to Streamline Application Processes and to Enhance Tracking of Career Outcomes.”