Using Pure
Troubleshooting
Using Pure
What is Pure?
Pure is a Current Research Information System (CRIS) used by the University of Birmingham, to collect information about research, researchers, publications and much more. It brings together information from several university systems collecting, storing and integrating information in a structured and standardised way, reducing duplication of work and supporting both internal and external processes.
How do I get access to Pure?
As PhD student you are automatically given a Pure user account. To login please go to https://pure.bham.ac.uk and enter your normal university username and password. If you have not been given a user account and would like to have one, this can be requested from the IT help desk from the homepage select ‘Make a request’ and choosing ‘Administrative Systems’ and then "Request Access to Pure".
What are the benefits of using Pure?
Adding information to Pure is quick and easy and allows you to store information about your research activity; including your publications, and easily reuse the information for other purposes.
Pure also has a built-in CV tool which can quickly create a customisable CV for you using information brought together from many different systems, an excellent tool for recording your development.
Information can also be exported from Pure in a number of different formats, allowing you to reuse it for other systems. This means that should you choose to move institutions in the future, this information can easily be downloaded and added to your new institution’s CRIS.
As a PhD student Pure is available to you immediately. You can begin recording your research activity and publications information and if RCUK funded, it can help you collate your Researchfish submission in year 3 as you’ll have all of this information pre-recorded in one place.
Do I have to use Pure?
As a PhD student there is no obligation for you to use Pure. There are many benefits of you doing so though and the information will potentially be very useful to you in the future.
Where does Pure get its’ information from?
Pure pulls information from many different university systems. It also uses information added by you and integrates everything into a useable format. If you believe any of your information is incorrect please let us know at Pure@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
Will I have a profile on the University Research Portal?
As a new PhD student your Pure account is initially set to "private", meaning that your personal profile is not visible on the University Research Portal. However this can easily be changed to "public" once you have updated your personal profile and added research outputs to Pure.
To change the visibility setting from private to public:
- Log into Pure https://pure.bham.ac.uk
- Select the "edit profile" link under the photo image icon on your Pure home page
- In the pop-up box which appears, scroll down the page to the "visibility" section and change the drop-down menu to "Public - Visible on the Birmingham Research Portal".
- Finally press the blue "save" button at the bottom of the screen.
What can I add to Pure?
Details of publications, activities, datasets and impacts can all be added to Pure. You can also add information to your personal profile. Theses should not be added to Pure as the University has a specific system for them.
How do I add a publication?
Adding a publication is quick and easy, select the green ‘+Add content’ button on the right hand side of your Pure homepage, select the appropriate content type template and then add the information as directed by the form. Add an acceptance date, all internal authors and the Author Accepted Manuscript (also known as a Post-Print’) where possible. Then you click ‘Save’ at the bottom of the page.
Who can see my Pure content?
If your profile has been set in Pure as "visible", any publications or research activity you add to Pure will be visible in both Pure and the research portal unless it has been marked as confidential. Please see Pure and the Research Portal FAQ above for further details.
What happens after I enter a publication?
After you have clicked ‘Save’ on a publication, the record you have created will be sent to the Library team who will check the information and validate the record. If they have any questions they will contact you directly.
Should I add my Thesis to Pure?
Theses should not be added to Pure as the University has a separate system for them. For information about this please see the intranet page Thesis guidance or contact ubira@lists.bham.ac.uk.
Can I add my ORCID to Pure?
Yes you can, it’s also possible for Pure to update your ORCID profile with any research outputs you might have added to Pure. See the intranet page ORCiD and Pure for further guidance.
Is Pure linked to Researchfish?
At present Pure is not linked to Researchfish although this is something that maybe a future development.
Troubleshooting
Where can I get help with Pure?
The Using Pure intranet site provides a range of guidance to support the most common tasks relating to Pure.
It’s also possible to contact us at Pure@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
I can’t log in to Pure, what should I do?
Pure is accessed using your normal username and password. To access Pure off-campus you will need to use the University's VPN service. Details of how to access the Student VPN can be found via IT Services Knowledge Base article Off-site Working: Introduction to our Services by scrolling down to the "student options" section.
If you still can’t log in please contact us at Pure@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
My information in Pure is incorrect, what should I do?
If your information in Pure is incorrect please let us know at Pure@contacts.bham.ac.uk and we’ll be happy to help you.
My publications are already in Pure but they’re not showing on my publications list, what should I do?
If you have not already been added as an author you should claim the publication. To do this locate and open the publication you would like to claim and select ‘Claim’ at the bottom of the window. The library will then review this on your behalf.
Do I have to manage my own profile?
In general it is you who is best placed to keep your profile up-to-date as you know your own work better than anyone else. Support may be present in some schools or colleges to help you but it remains your responsibility to ensure your profile is up-to-date.