# ORCID (Researcher IDs) MCP > ORCID (Researcher IDs) connects your AI agent directly to the global ORCID registry. Use this MCP to search for researchers, pull biographical data, and track scholarly work and funding history across academic records. ## Overview - **Category:** knowledge-management - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** researcher-search, academic-profile, solr-search, funding-data, scholarly-ecosystem, data-retrieval ## Description This connector gives you immediate access to the massive network of researcher identifiers managed by ORCID. You can ask your AI client to find specific scholars using simple searches or dig deep into a full profile. It pulls everything from general life details—like institutional affiliations and biographical summaries—to highly specific data, such as listing an author's entire body of published works or tracking their grant funding history. When you connect this MCP via Vinkius, your agent handles all the complex queries, letting you work with validated scholarly records right where you are. ## Tools ### get_works Gets a summary list of all research works and publications tied to the ORCID profile. ### register_webhook Sets up automated notifications for an ORCID record, requiring premium Member API access. ### search Performs a standard search against the main ORCID registry database. ### unregister_webhook Removes previously set up automated notifications for an ORCID record (premium access). ### update_item Changes the details of an existing item on a researcher's profile, requiring elevated Member API access. ### add_item Adds a new item to an existing ORCID record, but requires elevated Member API access. ### delete_item Removes an item from an ORCID record, but requires elevated Member API access. ### expanded_search Performs a deep search across the entire ORCID registry for broader results. ### get_activities Retrieves a high-level summary of every activity associated with a specific researcher record. ### get_person Fetches the basic biographical section and details for an ORCID profile. ### get_record Retrieves the full, comprehensive summary of a complete ORCID record. ### get_section_item Gets detailed information for one specific piece of content or item within an ORCID record. ### get_summary Retrieves validated trust markers on a record, requiring elevated Member API access. ### csv_search Searches the ORCID registry and returns all resulting data in a CSV file format. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Search the ORCID registry for researchers with the family name 'Einstein'. ``` **Response:** ``` I've searched the registry. I found several records for 'Einstein'. The most prominent is Albert Einstein (ORCID: 0000-0001-5109-3700). Would you like to see his full record summary? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Get the biographical details for ORCID 0000-0002-1825-0097. ``` **Response:** ``` Retrieving biographical data... For ORCID 0000-0002-1825-0097, the researcher is Josiah Carberry. He is affiliated with Brown University and his research focuses on psychoceramics. Would you like to see his list of works? ``` **Prompt:** ``` List all research works for ORCID 0000-0003-1415-9265. ``` **Response:** ``` Fetching works summary... I found 12 research works for this ORCID iD. Notable titles include 'Advanced Quantum Computing' and 'Neural Network Optimization'. Would you like the full details for any of these using their put-code? ``` ## Capabilities ### Search for researchers Find scholars by name, institution, or keywords using standard and expanded registry searches. ### Retrieve full profiles Fetch comprehensive records that include biographical details and a summary of all associated activities for one researcher ID. ### List publications and works Get a summary list of specific research outputs or scholarly articles tied to an ORCID profile. ### Review funding history Access details about the grant funding associated with a researcher's work. ### Manage records (requires membership) Add, update, or delete items on a record if your agent has the necessary API permissions. ## Use Cases ### Verifying candidate credentials A grant officer needs to confirm if a new applicant has published specific types of research. They ask their agent to use `get_works` and cross-reference the results with funding records using `get_activities`. The result immediately confirms eligibility. ### Mapping departmental expertise A librarian needs a list of all faculty who worked on 'quantum computing' in the last five years. They use `expanded_search` to gather initial IDs, then run `get_person` on each one to verify institutional affiliation. ### Updating publication details A researcher realizes a small detail is missing from their profile. Using the agent with Member API scope and calling `update_item`, they add the necessary information directly, avoiding manual web edits. ### Bulk data export for analysis A research team needs to analyze a list of 50 scholars' basic profiles. They use the `csv_search` tool to pull all the relevant names and summary data into one spreadsheet, ready for statistical modeling. ## Benefits - Instead of manually searching multiple databases, your agent uses the `expanded_search` tool to find researchers using advanced criteria like specific keywords or institutions across the entire global registry. - You stop copying text from profile pages. By calling `get_record`, you get a structured summary that feeds directly into your report without any formatting issues. - For tracking output, use `get_works` to immediately pull a list of publications associated with an ORCID ID, which is far faster than navigating institutional repositories one by one. - When managing data integrity, the agent can call `add_item` or `update_item` to ensure that records are kept current and accurate if you have the Member API permissions. - Need a snapshot of trust? The `get_summary` tool lets you access validated trust markers on a record in one step, which is critical for compliance reporting. ## How It Works The bottom line is that you get reliable, standardized scholarly metadata without leaving your primary workflow. 1. First, connect this MCP by providing an ORCID Access Token (either Public or Member API) to Vinkius. 2. Next, tell your AI client exactly what you need—for example, 'Find the works for researcher X' or 'Search for all authors from University Y'. 3. Your agent executes the specific tool call and returns structured data containing the requested biographical details, publication lists, or funding information. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I use ORCID (Researcher IDs) to search for people?** You can use either the standard `search` tool or the more powerful `expanded_search` tool. The expanded version gives you broader results, allowing you to filter by keywords or institution. **Does ORCID (Researcher IDs) include funding data?** Yes, it includes funding history. You can use the agent to retrieve details about associated grant funds and activities via `get_activities`. **Can I update a researcher's record using ORCID (Researcher IDs)?** You can, but you must have Member API access. Use tools like `add_item`, `update_item`, or `delete_item` when your agent has the necessary permissions. **What is the difference between get_record and expanded_search?** `expanded_search` finds potential candidates across the whole registry. `get_record` takes a specific ID and returns the complete, detailed profile summary for that single record. **Is ORCID (Researcher IDs) suitable for large-scale data exports?** Yes. For bulk retrieval of simple records, use `csv_search` to get all results into a CSV format, making it easy to process in spreadsheet software. **Can I search for researchers by their institution or specific keywords?** Yes! Use the `expanded_search` tool with a Solr query like `affiliation-name:"University of Oxford"` to find researchers associated with specific organizations along with their profile details. **How do I retrieve the full list of publications for a specific ORCID iD?** You can use the `get_works` tool by providing the researcher's ORCID iD. This will return a summary of all research works associated with that record. **Is it possible to add new research items to an ORCID profile using this server?** Yes, if you have a Member API access token with the appropriate scopes, you can use the `add_item` tool to add works, funding, or other activities to a record.