Profile information and visibility

How do I view my profile?

Once you’ve logged in to ResearchGate, click on your profile picture on the top right-hand corner of any page. 

Changing your account name

You can edit your name in a few easy steps:

1. Go to your profile and click on Edit next to your name 
2. Click on the Edit name button at the bottom of the box that appears
3. Update your name and click Save to confirm your changes.

Note: For security reasons, you can only change your name three times within a 30-day period.

Changing your profile photo

You can easily add, update or remove your profile photo. 

How much information is visible on my profile?

ResearchGate gives you the option to choose how much of your information is displayed — both publicly and to other ResearchGate members. To customize who sees what, follow these steps:

1. Go to your Privacy Settings
2. Select the drop-down menu underneath the About you section
3. Choose who can see your profile information by selecting Mutual followers, ResearchGate members (including recruiters), or Everyone
4. Your changes will be automatically updated.

Your public page is automatically enabled when you sign up to ResearchGate. You can change the visibility of your public page by following these steps:

1. Go to your Privacy Settings
2. If you would like to enable your public profile, tick the box next to Enable your public profile
3. Your changes will be automatically updated.

Will my profile show up in search engines?

To make your profile page visible on search engines, you will need to select two options in your Privacy Settings following these steps:

1. Go to your Privacy Settings
2. Select Everyone from the drop-down options under About you
3. Tick the box next to Enable your public profile
4. Your changes will be automatically updated.

Note that disabling your public page does not prevent your research from being indexed on search engines.

Searching for your profile

You can easily reach your profile by clicking on your profile photo on the top right-hand corner of every ResearchGate page. Your profile will always be searchable for other ResearchGate members. Unless you have chosen to make your profile private in your Privacy Settings, your profile will also be searchable by non-members.

Adding your ORCID iD to your profile

You can add your unique ORCID researcher identifier to your ResearchGate profile.

1. Go to your profile and scroll down to the Memberships and ORCID iD section
2. Click on Add your memberships and ORCID iD or on Edit
3. Fill in your ORCID iD and click Save.

Updating your contact details

Your contact details help researchers connect with you outside of ResearchGate. You can add a link to your Twitter profile by following these steps:

1. Go to your profile and scroll down to the About me section
2. Click on Add your contact information or on Edit
3. Update your contact details and click Save to confirm the changes.

Note: Only your mutual followers can see your contact details. To find out more visit your Privacy Settings or read our Statement on Privacy and Data Protection. 

Changing your login email address

It is possible to use a deactivated email address to log in to your ResearchGate account as long as you can remember the password. This is how you can change the email address associated with your ResearchGate account:

1. Log in to ResearchGate using your current login email address
2. Click on your profile image on the top right-hand side of any page
3. Click Settings and then Account settings on the right-hand side
4. Under Email address, click Add additional email
5. Type in the email address you want to use as your login email and enter your password
6. Click Add
7. A confirmation email will be sent to your new email address. Click the link in this email to complete the verification process. If you have requested the confirmation email multiple times, please note only the latest link will be active
8. Then go back to your Account Settings
9. Click the Set as primary button next to the email address you've just added to make it the primary email address for your ResearchGate account.

You can now use this email address when you next log in to ResearchGate.

Adding or updating your affiliations, education, grants and awards, and memberships

To add or update information about your professional experience, go to your profile. You can edit your affiliations, education, and achievements by clicking in the blank area of each section or on Edit in each section's header.

Importing your CV to your profile

Currently, it's not possible to upload your CV to your ResearchGate profile, but other options are available. For example, you can add most of the information contained in your CV to your profile, including skills, affiliations, education, awards, and memberships.

Shared connections

Where can I find shared connections?

When you’re visiting someone’s profile, you’ll now be able to see your shared connections.

How can shared connections help me?

One of the best ways on ResearchGate to understand how relevant a researcher is to your work and whether you’d like to connect is through your shared connections – the more people you have in common, the more likely it is that you’re part of a professional community. 

How are shared connections calculated?

We consider your co-authors, advisors, lab colleagues, mutual followers and department colleagues to be your connections. A shared connection is someone who is a connection to both you and the person whose profile you’re viewing.