Persistent Identifiers

Do you ever struggle with keeping track of all your research outputs and ensuring they stay accessible over time? Well, persistent identifiers are here to help! They are special codes that are assigned to digital objects, persons or institutions to ensure they have a permanent, unique identity.

Some common types of persistent identifiers include Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), Open Researcher and Contributor Identifiers (ORCID) and Research Organisation Registry (ROR). These codes serve as links between your research and specific datasets, publications, and other research outputs.

Having persistent identifiers makes it easier for you to manage your research and for others to discover, reproduce, and reuse your work. By using persistent identifiers, you can be sure that your research will remain accessible and properly attributed for years to come!

Researcher Identifiers

Researcher identifiers are unique, persistent codes assigned to individual researchers to help them keep track of their research outputs and contributions over time. They provide a way for researchers to associate their work with a unique identifier, making it easier to find, cite, and link their work with other research outputs.

Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier (ORCID iD)

An ORCID iD is a unique identifier for researchers and scholars that helps ensure their work is accurately credited to them. It’s like a digital passport that links to your professional information and activities. With an ORCID iD, you can make sure your research is always discoverable and distinguished from others with similar names, even if you change your name or your profession. Think of it as a permanent, digital identifier that helps you get the recognition you deserve for your work.

See the display guidelines for more information on how to use ORCID iDs.

Note

The preferred researcher identifier for the CRC 1261 is the ORCID iD, as it is widely used in the academic community. If you do not have an ORCID iD yet, you can easily create one for free on the ORCID website (https://orcid.org/register). By having an ORCID iD, you can ensure that your research outputs are correctly and uniquely attributed to you, and can be easily linked to your professional information and activities.

Object Identifiers

Object identifiers are unique codes or symbols assigned to digital and physical objects to help identify and manage them effectively. Object identifiers can be used to track and retrieve objects and metadata, and ensure the authenticity and reliability of objects in digital repositories. They help support long-term preservation, discoverability, and accessibility of objects, making them crucial for effective management and dissemination of information in various fields.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

The Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a unique identifier for digital content such as research articles, datasets, and other scholarly works. The DOI provides a stable and permanent link to the content, enabling easy access and citation. By assigning a DOI to research outputs, authors can ensure that their work is properly cited, discovered and preserved over time, even if the location of the original source changes. The DOI system is managed by the International DOI Foundation (IDF) and is widely adopted by publishers, libraries, and academic institutions.

International Generic Sample Number (IGSN)

The International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) is a persistent unique identifier for physical samples and specimens. Think of it like a barcode for scientific samples. It works just like a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), providing a way to uniquely identify and access a physical sample regardless of where it is stored. It allows different systems to share information about the same sample and helps keep track of samples across different universities and locations. This makes scientific research more efficient and useful for everyone.

IGSN ID Registration Service

Kiel University provides an IGSN service for its employees and institutions, allowing them to register IGSN IDs. This service enables researchers and scholars to assign unique, permanent, and globally recognised identifiers to their physical samples, enhancing the transparency, reproducibility, and accessibility of their research data.

For more information about the IGSN Service, see the IGSN Service documentation.

Organisation Identifiers

Organisation identifiers are unique codes assigned to institutions, organisations, or companies that enable the reliable and unambiguous identification of the entity in question. These identifiers are used in various domains, including scientific research, finance, and government, to ensure that the work and activities of organisations can be clearly linked and tracked over time.

Research Organisation Registry (ROR) ID

The Research Organisation Registry (ROR) ID is a unique identifier that distinguishes research organisations from one another. It provides a persistent digital identifier for organisations and helps ensure that they are correctly and uniquely attributed to their respective research outputs.

Note

The preferred organisation identifier for the CRC 1261 is the ROR ID, as it is widely used in the academic community.

Kiel University has a unique ROR ID, which is https://ror.org/04v76ef78. This identifier is used to represent the university in the research community and should be used in metadata whenever possible. Researchers affiliated with Kiel University can add the university as their affiliation using this ROR ID, helping to accurately link their research outputs to the institution.