> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.researchgate.net/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.researchgate.net/profile/deceased-researchers.md).

# Deceased researchers

#### Page contents <a href="#deceasedresearchers-howdoireporttoresearchgatethataresearcherhaspassedaway" id="deceasedresearchers-howdoireporttoresearchgatethataresearcherhaspassedaway"></a>

* [How do I report to ResearchGate that a researcher has passed away?](/profile/verification-on-researchgate.md)
* [What happens to the ResearchGate profile of a deceased researcher?](#deceasedresearchers-whathappenstotheresearchgateprofileofadeceasedresearcher)
* [How can I request the deletion of a deceased researcher’s account?](#deceasedresearchers-howcanirequestthedeletionofadeceasedresearchersaccount)

#### How do I report to ResearchGate that a researcher has passed away? <a href="#deceasedresearchers-howdoireporttoresearchgatethataresearcherhaspassedaway" id="deceasedresearchers-howdoireporttoresearchgatethataresearcherhaspassedaway"></a>

If you know a researcher who has passed away, you can report their ResearchGate profile to us by following these steps:

1. Visit our [Help Center](/readme.md) and click **Contact us** at the top of the page
2. Under **What can we help you with?** select **Account and profiles**
3. Under **How can we help you?** select **I’m reporting the profile of a deceased researcher**

To submit your report, you’ll need to enter the URL of their ResearchGate profile and some further information, such as a link to an online obituary or notice on their institution's website.

#### **What happens to the ResearchGate profile of a deceased researcher?** <a href="#deceasedresearchers-whathappenstotheresearchgateprofileofadeceasedresearcher" id="deceasedresearchers-whathappenstotheresearchgateprofileofadeceasedresearcher"></a>

Once a report is confirmed, we deactivate all notifications being sent to the email address of the deceased and stop pending invitations going out in their name. Additionally, we remove all sensitive contact information from their profiles so that it is not publicly visible. Other researchers will still be able to follow, download and view their work, and see their answers in Q\&A.

Note: It's not possible to transfer ownership of or grant access to a deceased researcher's ResearchGate account to another person.

#### **How can I request the deletion of a deceased researcher’s account?** <a href="#deceasedresearchers-howcanirequestthedeletionofadeceasedresearchersaccount" id="deceasedresearchers-howcanirequestthedeletionofadeceasedresearchersaccount"></a>

We can delete a deceased researcher’s account upon request from an authorized representative, such as an executor or someone with power of attorney. To process this request, please provide the following:

* Proof of passing (e.g., online obituary, a scanned obituary from a local newspaper)
* Proof of authority (e.g., last will and testament, power of attorney).

When submitting documentation, please cover up any personal information we don’t need to see in order to fulfill your request. Once we confirm that the documentation matches the information on the researcher’s account, we will proceed with the account deletion.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://help.researchgate.net/profile/deceased-researchers.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.