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University of Houston Libraries

Researcher Profiles

Having an online researcher profile is a first step to making you and your research more widely known. By making your research available to the widest possible audience, you greatly improve its discoverability. With a profile you can...

  • Ensure attribution of your work.
  • Take control of your online identity.
  • Connect with potential collaborators.
  • Track citation metrics.
  • Differentiate your work  from other researchers.
  • Comply with publisher and funder requirements.

There are numerous platforms available to host profiles. Be sure to use the one(s) most relevant to your needs. Consider the options highlighted below as they are among the most widely known and used.

Select Platforms

Google Scholar profiles provide a way for authors to showcase their academic publications. Users can check who is citing their articles, graph citations over time, and compute several citation metrics. Making the profile public allows it to appear in Google Scholar search results and significantly increases the likelihood of publications being discovered..

The Open Researcher and Contributor ID, popularly known as ORCID, provides a unique, persistent identifier for researchers. This profile is a good option to satisfy the government mandate for researchers receiving federal funds to have a publicly available identifier. ORCID integrates with other resources such as Scopus and Web of Science as well as funding agency applications.

The Scopus Author ID and profile are automatically generated if any of a researcher's publications are indexed in Scopus. The UH Libraries' subscription to Scopus allows for full access to content; but the author ID profiles are publicly accessible. Though the profiles are automatically generated, researchers are not able to edit them. Use the Author Feedback Wizard to have corrections made to your profile.

With a Web of Science Researcher Profile, you are able to track your publications, citation metrics, peer reviews, and journal editing work. The UH Libraries' institutional subscription allows for access to the most complete set of search and personalization features. You are able to maintain and edit your profile and a limited version of it is publicly accessible. If you have previously used Publons, it is now incorporated into this platform. Use this guide to learn more and get help with setting up your profile.

These online platforms allow you to develop a profile and connect with other researchers, while also allowing you to share academic related content.

  • Academia.edu - a commercial social networking site. A researcher can create a profile, upload their work, and select areas of interest to find networks of users with similar interests. Analytics related to engagement with uploaded research is available.
  • LinkedIn - one of the most popular social networks among scholars. It offers an opportunity to connect and develop networks with others in your field. You can also stay up to date with activities and information shared by others.
  • Mendeley - known as a reference manager, but it also acts as an academic social network where a researcher can develop a profile, share research papers, and connect with other researchers.
  • ResearchGate - a commercial social networking site.. A researcher is able to create a profile, share papers, engage in discussion, and find collaborators.