Website not available

The website is available only if JavaScript is enabled and if it is supported by a modern browser.

Tested browsers:

Università della Svizzera italiana University Library Lugano

University Library Lugano

  1. Information
  2. Ricerco

Ricerco - User manual

Aim

RICERCO is the institutional tool for managing the research output of USI researchers. It provides a centralised way to manage publications, making them accessible on the University’s websites and seamlessly integrated into the institutional repository, SUSI.

The following guide contains useful instructions for using the platform.

For support, the USI Libraries’ Open Access service is always available at: [email protected].

Authentication

To access RICERCO, login to https://inside.usi.ch/ricerco/ with your Switch edu-ID credentials.

Navigation

The RICERCO platform is composed of a dashboard and three main sections, where you can manage your publications.

You can navigate between each section via the left-hand menu.

The main functionalities of RICERCO are:

  • Collect: in this section, the system retrieves publications from external sources, and you can search a publication through a DOI input. You can then decide whether to discard or import them.
  • Elaborate: it allows to elaborate publications that have been imported from the previous section, and to manually add new ones.
  • Disseminate: in this section, you can configure the visibility of your publications on USI websites and on the institutional repository.

1. Dashboard

The dashboard provides an overview of your imported publications as well as their status.

Here, you can connect your ORCID identifier and manage delegations, if applicable. More information on this latter functionality is given in section "5. Delegations" of this guide.

1.2 How to connect your ORCID identifier

By connecting an ORCID identifier, publications can be imported automatically at regular intervals, ensuring the research record remains consistently up to date and reliable. Please visit section "2.2. How to set the automatic collection" for more details.

Insert your ORCID id in the dedicated field and save it. This will allow the automatic collection of publications.

How to create an ORCID identifier

ORCID is an internationally recognized persistent identifier. The ID links researchers directly to their publications and assigns them regardless of name or institution changes. You can easily register your own profile on the ORCID website.

 Did you know?
Many funders now require an ORCID iD. For SNSF grant applications, for example, it is mandatory to associate an ORCID iD to your CV.

1.2 Operations on behalf of

In this section, you can see the names of delegators, namely people who gave you the permission to act on their behalf within the platform.
You can select the person from the drop-down menu to start operating on their behalf.

Delegators and delegates are listed in the "Delegations” section of RICERCO.

More information on this functionality is given in section "5. Delegations" of this guide.

1.3 Automatic external collection

Here, you can define the period for the automatic collection of records. Please see section "2.2. How to set the automatic collection" for more details.

1.4 Statistics

In this section, you have an overview of your publications, their type, OA status, and online visibility. At the bottom of the dashboard, you have the possibility to either export an overview (pdf format) or the publication list (Excel format).

2. Collect

This section displays publications that RICERCO can retrieve from external sources, using two distinct methods:

  • Automatic import
  • Quick search

2.1 Automatic import

This feature can be configured in the dashboard and it enables regular retrieval of bibliographic data from selected sources.

 Currently, the system retrieves publications data from ORCID accounts. In those cases where a DOI identifier is available, the system retrieves additional metadata for a given publication from Crossref.

2.1.2 First access and duplicate records

Upon your first access in RICERCO, you will see:

  • the list of publications already existing in the USI Search website, if applicable;
  • the list of publications already existing in the SUSI repository, if applicable.

If you already have an updated bibliography in USI Search, we suggest activating the automatic import from the current or next year, to avoid creating a list of duplicate records.

2.1.3 Duplicate records

Duplicate records are created only in cases where publications are not assigned a DOI and are already existing in the USI Search website. Duplicate records can be deleted as appropriate in this section.

2.2 How to set the automatic collection

In your dashboard, you can define the timing for the automatic collection of publications.

By default, the system is set on “Never”.

Figure 2.2 - Selection of automatic collection timing

You can decide to collect data from the beginning, or from a given year.

 Hint:
select “all years” if your USI Search profile is empty or not up-to-date. Select a given year if your profile is up-to-date. This will avoid the creation of duplicate records. The year can also be in the future.

This feature allows you to locate a specific publication by entering its DOI. Click on “quick search” at the bottom and insert a DOI to locate the publication. Once the publication has been located, you will see the matching result(s) in a pop-up window:

Figure 3 - Quick search result view

Actions:

  1. Click on the “+” button to see the metadata retrieved from the source;
  2. Click on “i” to verify data completeness. Note: crossed items correspond to the missing items;
  3. Click on the “import” button to import the publication and elaborate it in the next section.

 If the system yields no result, it might mean that the DOI is not indexed in Crossref; this can happen if the DOI has been registered through another registration platform, such as DataCite. You can manually add a publication in the Elaborate section.

2.4 List view and edit retrieved publications

Retrieved publications will be listed in the “Collect” section.

 If the list is empty, it either means that: you deleted your previously imported publications, or all new publications have already been moved to the “Elaborate” section. You can list deleted publications by selecting “Show deleted” at the bottom.

Figure 4 - Publications list and additional actions

Actions:

  1. Click on the magnifying lens next to a publication to see its details. Other than its metadata, the system will show you its dissemination and completeness statuses.
  2. Click on the bin icon to delete a publication.
  3. Select one or all publications to elaborate it/them. The selected publication(s) will “disappear” and will be moved to the next section. 

Figure 5 - Publication selection

3. Elaborate

This section lists the publications associated with your personal profile or, if applicable, with the profile of another researcher who has granted you the delegation to act on their behalf.
Each publication can be:

  • viewed via the magnifying glass icon,
  • reviewed and edited via the pen icon,
  • removed via the bin icon.

New publications can also be added manually by selecting the “+ CREATE” button.

3.1 Create manually

Create a new publication manually by selecting the “+ CREATE” button.

Add the publication metadata in the new window.

Figure 6 - New publication window

Click on the “+” icons to add a new item, such as the author and additional co-authors.

3.1.1 Author 

To add a new author, start typing in the “Name” box. The name will appear in the drop-down list. Once you select the name, the ORCID field fills out automatically, if already existing. Alternatively, you can add it manually. 

Figure 7 - Add an author, its role and ORCID

3.1.2 Type

Select the publication type from the drop-down menu. Each selection will generate a set of related fields, either mandatory or optional, to be filled out.

3.1.3 Publication full-text

Here, you can upload the publication full-text. Once you upload a pdf, you can define the end date of the embargo, if applicable.

Please pay attention to the publisher’s policies regarding the self-archiving and sharing policies of your publication.

 Only upload the version you are allowed to share: pre-print, accepted manuscript, version of record. You can verify the journal conditions on the Open Policy Finder website.

You are responsible to verify and comply with the conditions set out in the publishing agreement related to the copyright and sharing policies of the publisher.
In case of any doubt or if you are unsure which version you are allowed to share publicly, please contact [email protected].

3.1.4 License

Select the appropriate license from the drop-down menu. You can find additional information on the different licences on the Creative Commons website.

3.1.5 DOI 

Insert the relevant DOI of the publication.

3.1.6 Identifiers

Add other identifiers, such as the ISSN.

3.1.7 Faculty / Organizational Units

Add the Faculty(ies) and the Organizational Unit(s) related to the publication.

3.1.8 Sustainability

This is an optional field, related to the sustainability strategy of USI, allowing to tag projects, classes and now publications to a specific UN Sustainable Goals. You can assign one or several sustainability labels to your publications. They will appear in the USI website. 

4. Disseminate

This section allows you to configure the visibility of your publications – or, if acting under delegation, those of another researcher – across USI websites, including search.usi.ch and institutional portals. 
Publications can also be deposited in SUSI, the university’s Open Access repository

4.1 USI websites 

Figure 8 - overview of the "disseminate" screen - USI websites

By toggling the switches, you can publish your publications:

  • Across USI websites
  • On your personal profile
  • Highlight them.

By default, all newly imported items are automatically set as “hidden”.

4.2 Repository SUSI

Figure 9 - overview of the "disseminate" screen - SUSI repository

You can deposit your publications the university’s repository SUSI.

In addition to bibliographic data, you must attach the full-text of the publication in a version that can be archived and disseminated in open access, in compliance with the license and the contractual conditions agreed with the publisher. 

Figure 10 - full-text edit window

In the edit window, you must: 
•    Attach the required pdf.
•    Select the relevant license
•    Select the visibility, if applicable
•    Set the embargo period, if applicable (hint: this field only appears once you upload a document).

Versions that can be shared

  • Final version: if the publication is in Open Access (Gold, hybrid, or diamond), you can deposit the final version (also called version of record, published version);
     
  • Accepted Manuscript: if the publisher does not allow Open Access sharing, you must deposit the version accepted for publication (so-called Author's Accepted Manuscript), i.e. the version of the manuscript accepted for publication after the peer-review process. This version does not include the final layout, logos and typesetting.
    Please note: the publisher may impose an embargo period and a specific license. You can check the editorial conditions for dissemination on the publishing agreement, on the Open Policy Finder website, or by contacting us.

 Only upload the document that complies with the conditions of the publishing agreement concerning copyright and sharing policies.
In case of doubts, contact us beforehand.

Each submission to SUSI is then reviewed and validated by the University Library Lugano staff before being made publicly available.

Statuses and actions:

  • Insufficient data - review data. Some required elements are missing for publication in the SUSI repository. You need to edit the publication metadata before submitting it to SUSI

  • Eligible for OA deposit - send to SUSI. The publication is ready to be sent for validation in the SUSI repository

  • Published as OA: the publication has been disseminated.

5. Delegations

RICERCO allows users to delegate other people, who can then act on their behalf.

In this section, you can see both your “Delegators” and your “Delegates”.

Figure 8 - Delgations screen

  •     Delegators: you can work on their behalf.
  •     Delegates: they can work on your behalf.

5.1 How to add someone as your proxy

Click on the “Add” button in the "Delegates" box. Start typing the name of your proxy and select it from the drop-down list:

Figure 9 - How to add a delegate

The selected person will then receive a notification email, informing them that they have been authorized to operate throughout the platform on your behalf.

You can refuse a delegation using the trash icon.
Similarly, you can revoke a delegation by clicking on the trash icon.

5.2 How to act on behalf of someone else

With a delegation, a proxy can collect, add and update your publications.

When you have been given the authorization to act on behalf of someone else, you can select this person from the dashboard, or in each individual section. You will then be able to operate as their proxy in that specific section.