# ORCID MCP > ORCID connects your AI client directly to the Open Researcher and Contributor ID registry. It lets you search, retrieve, and manage professional academic data for any researcher globally. Quickly access biographical details, track publications, and map complex research affiliations across multiple institutions. ## Overview - **Category:** knowledge-management - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** researcher-id, academic-publishing, data-attribution, scholarly-records, biographical-data, persistent-identifier ## Description Need to verify who a scholar is or what they've published? This MCP connects your AI client directly to the ORCID registry. You can find researchers anywhere in the world by searching names, emails, or specific identifiers. Once you have an ID, you can retrieve full summaries of their professional profiles—including everything from institutional affiliations to publications and funding sources. It's more than just a profile viewer; it lets you track all activity associated with that researcher. For advanced users, the MCP also allows direct management: creating, updating, or deleting items on a record if you have the necessary access tokens. By connecting this through Vinkius, your AI agent gains visibility into scholarly records across disciplines and borders—all without needing to navigate complex academic databases manually. ## Tools ### create_item Adds a new piece of information to a specific section of a researcher's record (requires Member API access). ### csv_search Searches the ORCID registry and returns all results in CSV format for easy bulk download. ### delete_item Removes an existing item from a researcher's record section (requires Member API access). ### expanded_search Searches the ORCID registry and returns detailed, expanded metadata for matching records. ### get_activities Retrieves a summary list of all activities linked to an ORCID ID, including works and funding. ### get_item Gets the full metadata for one specific piece of data using its unique put-code. ### get_person Fetches the basic biographical section containing names and email addresses for a researcher. ### get_record Retrieves a high-level summary view of the entire ORCID profile record. ### get_section Gets a summary of one specific section (like Works or Funding) on an ORCID record. ### get_summary Retrieves the validated and self-asserted summary data for a researcher's profile (requires Member API access). ### register_webhook Sets up a callback URL so ORCID can notify you when a record changes (requires Premium Member API). ### search Searches the entire ORCID registry using specific criteria like names, emails, or keywords. ### update_item Modifies an existing piece of information within a researcher's section (requires Member API access). ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Search the ORCID registry for researchers with the family name 'Einstein'. ``` **Response:** ``` I've searched the registry. I found several records, including 'Albert Einstein' (ORCID: 0000-0001-XXXX-XXXX). Would you like me to fetch the full record summary for this iD? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Get the biographical details for ORCID iD 0000-0002-1825-0097. ``` **Response:** ``` Fetching biographical data using `get_person`... The record belongs to Josiah Carberry. It includes verified names, associated email addresses, and a list of other identifiers like Scopus Author ID. ``` **Prompt:** ``` List all the works associated with ORCID 0000-0002-1825-0097. ``` **Response:** ``` I've retrieved the 'works' section. There are 12 items listed. Notable titles include 'Toward a Unified Theory of High-Energy Metrology'. Would you like the full details for any specific work? ``` ## Capabilities ### Search the global registry Find specific researchers or groups of scholars using name, email, or keyword searches. ### Retrieve full professional profiles Fetch complete biographical records and summaries for a given ORCID ID. ### Track academic activity Gather detailed lists of all associated works, funding grants, and institutional affiliations. ### Manage researcher items Authorized users can create, update, or delete specific sections on a record to keep data current. ## Use Cases ### Onboarding a New Faculty Member A University Administrator needs to build a department directory. Instead of emailing every faculty member for CVs, they use `search` with known departmental emails and then run `get_record` on the top results. This instantly compiles verified names, past affiliations, and key publications into one source. ### Tracking a Citation Chain A Data Scientist finds an old paper cited in their work. They use `search` with keywords from that paper to find the original author's ORCID ID, then run `get_activities` to see all subsequent works and funding records by that researcher. ### Creating a Program Report A Research Librarian needs to prove which authors contributed to a multi-institutional project. They use the ORCID ID of each major contributor to run `get_section` for 'Works', guaranteeing they capture every publication listed against that specific ID. ### Validating Grant Eligibility A funding body must verify a PI's history. They use `search` and then `get_summary` to ensure the researcher's current institutional affiliation matches the grant application requirements, validating their professional standing. ## Benefits - Verification: Use `get_person` to instantly pull a researcher's verified name, email, and associated IDs, eliminating manual data entry. - Tracking: Run `get_activities` to get a complete list of all publications, grants, and institutional roles tied to one ID. - Deep Data Dive: Need more than a summary? Use `expanded_search` or `get_item` to pull granular metadata on specific works or funding sources. - Bulk Processing: Run `csv_search` when you need to analyze hundreds of records at once, getting the data ready for spreadsheet analysis. - Data Maintenance: If your system needs to correct an entry, use `update_item` or `create_item` (if authorized) to keep the profile accurate. ## How It Works The bottom line is that you get verifiable, standardized scholarly records directly into your workflow. 1. Subscribe to this MCP and provide your ORCID Access Token (either Public or Member API). 2. Tell your AI client the researcher's identifier, name, or email. 3. The agent executes a query against the registry and returns structured academic data. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I search the ORCID registry using the ORCID MCP?** You use the `search` tool by providing criteria like a name, email address, or family name. The agent returns potential matches, which you can then use to fetch specific records. **Does the ORCID MCP allow me to see all of a researcher's publications?** Yes, running `get_activities` gathers summaries of works and grants associated with the ID. You can also run `get_section` specifically for 'Works'. **What is the difference between `get_record` and `expanded_search` in ORCID?** `get_record` provides a quick, high-level summary view of the profile. `expanded_search` gives you much deeper metadata for more detailed analysis. **Can I use the ORCID MCP to update a researcher's information?** Yes, tools like `create_item`, `update_item`, and `delete_item` allow authorized users to manage sections of the record. Note that these require specific Member API access. **Do I need an ORCID ID to use this MCP?** While you can search using names or emails, having the specific 16-digit ORCID iD and running `get_record` is the most direct and accurate way to pull a full profile.