To register, simply click on the ‘Register’ button at the top of the WoS page. Enter your e-mail address (which doesn't necessarily have to be your university one), create a password, and then enter your name. Once registered, you can log in using the ‘Sign In’ or ‘Login’ button with your credentials.
On Web of Science, you can register as a user, which offers several advantages, such as:
Personalise your account: by registering, you can personalise WoS according to your preferences. This includes adjusting the home page, choosing the database to be displayed automatically when you log in, setting the number of rows of results shown per page, and selecting the default sorting order of the results;
Saving searches: once you have an account, you can save your searches to access them later, making it easier to continue your work;
Creating alerts: receive email alerts regarding new search results that match your criteria or notifications whenever a specific paper you are following is cited in new papers;
Use of EndNote Web: the platform offers access to EndNote Web, an online bibliographic reference manager that makes it easy to organise and cite your references;
Personalised recommendations: based on your research history, WoS can suggest relevant papers and resources, and thus help you to expand your literature review;
Researcher profile: if you have publications indexed in Web of Science, then you can claim your author registration and create a researcher profile, consolidating your publications in one place.
Saving searches and creating alerts on Web of Science are useful tools for researchers and students alike. Saving searches allows you to save specific criteria for future reference, saving time and ensuring consistency. Creating alerts keeps users informed of new publications that match the defined criteria by sending automatic notifications. These functionalities help manage and track relevant information efficiently.
How to save searches:
1st - Carrying out the search: start your search using the appropriate filters and fields to find the documents you want. Click on ‘Search’ to obtain the results.
2nd - Select the results: once you have obtained the results, select the papers you want to save. Tick the boxes next to the papers’ titles in the results list.
3nd - Save the search: once you have selected the results you want, click on the ‘Save Search’ option, which usually appears at the top or on the side of the results page.
4th - Name the search: attribute a name to your search in order that you can easily identify it in the future. If you wish, you can also add a description to provide context or additional details about the focus of the search.
5th - Accessing saved searches: your saved searches can be accessed from your account, in the ‘My Saved Searches’ section, from where you can re-run the search at any time, enabling you to update the results with new publications that match the criteria that you set.
How to configurate alerts:
1st - Create a search alert: after carrying out a search and, if you wish, save it, you can set up an alert in order to be notified when new relevant documents are added to the database. This option is usually available in the same place where you save the search.
2nd - Manage alerts: you can manage your alerts via the ‘My Alerts’ section in your Web of Science account, where you can edit, pause, or delete alerts as required, enabling you to activate automatic notifications whenever new results matching your criteria are found.
3rd - Set alert preferences: choose how often you want to receive notifications (daily, weekly, etc.). You can also set sending preferences, such as details of the e-mail address to which alerts should be sent, in order to ensure that updates arrive at your convenience.
4th - Alerts by researcher profile: you can also set up alerts to be notified when a particular researcher or organisation publishes new work. This feature is useful for keeping track of scientific production in your area of interest and ensuring that you are always up to date with the publications of relevant authors or institutions.
Web of Science offers a personalised recommendations feature that can be extremely useful for users who want to discover new papers and trends in their area of interest. Here's how it works and how you can make the most of this tool:
Based on searches and browsing history: recommendations are generated based on your previous searches, papers you have saved or cited, and also your browsing history on the platform. This personalisation helps to bring to your attention content that is likely to be relevant to your area of study or research.
Exploring new papers: you can find suggestions for papers, journals, or even profiles of researchers related to the topics you have been researching in the personalised recommendations section. This is especially useful for discovering new publications that may not have appeared in your direct search results.
Continuous updates: as you progress in your use of Web of Science, the recommendations are continuously updated to reflect your new areas of interest or changes in search patterns. This ensures that you are always up to date with the latest publications and trends in your scientific area.
Easy access to recommendations: personalised recommendations are accessible from the Web of Science homepage or in the ‘My Web of Science’ or ‘My Web of Science Account’ section. You can view them at any time and adjust them as necessary.
Setting preferences: you can adjust the settings of personalised recommendations to include or exclude certain topics, areas of study, or types of documents. This facilitates the ability to further refine the suggestions you receive, making them even more relevant for your research.
Creating a researcher profile on Web of Science is an important step towards increasing your visibility and managing your scientific output effectively. The platform enables you to create and personalise your profile via ResearcherID, which is integrated with Web of Science. Below are the steps for creating your profile:
Access the platform
Visit the site: access Web of Science via your browser.
Create an account: if you don't already have an account, register by clicking on ‘Register’ in the top right-hand corner of the home page.
Log in: if you already have an account, log in with your credentials.
Create or associate a ResearcherID
Manage the profile: in your account, go to the ‘My Researcher Profile’ section and look for the ResearcherID number.
Create a ResearcherID: if you don't already have a ResearcherID, you can create it in this section. This unique identifier enables you to associate your publications with your profile.
Associate an ORCID number: if you already have an ORCID, you can associate it with your Web of Science account to automatically import your publications and citations.
Fill in your profile
Personal information: add information such as your full name, affiliation, contact e-mail address, and other relevant data.
Research area: specify your areas of specialisation to better define your profile and paper recommendations.
Publications: add your publications manually or else import them directly from Web of Science, ORCID, or other compatible databases.
Collaborations and projects: include information about collaborations with other researchers, projects that you are currently involved in, and ant funding that you have received.
Personalise and manage your publications
Review publications: check that the publications associated with your profile are correct and complete. Add or remove publications at will.
Integration with ORCID: use your ResearcherID to integrate your profile with ORCID, ensuring that your publications are synchronised on both platforms.
Making your profile public
Visibility: after completing and reviewing your profile, choose to make it public in order to increase your visibility in Web of Science searches.
Keep your profile up to date
Regular updates: periodically update your profile with new publications, collaborations, and changes of affiliation, in order to better reflect your work.
Benefits of creating a researcher profile on Web of Science
Greater visibility: a well-filled profile increases your visibility among other researchers, universities, and possible collaborators.
Publication management: makes it easier to organise and manage your publications and citations.
Networking: helps you establish connections with other researchers and take part in international collaborations.