Western Libraries

Western’s Research Information Management System (RIMS) Resource Hub

About Western RIMS

1. What is Western RIMS?

Western RIMS (Research Information Management System) is a centralized platform powered by Symplectic Elements that helps scholars manage and showcase research, teaching, and professional activities. Learn more.

2. Who can use Western RIMS?

Research-eligible faculty can use Western RIMS—regardless of discipline or career stage.

3. How is RIMS being implemented?

RIMS is being implemented in phases. Learn more about the implementation plan.

4. What is Symplectic Elements?

Western RIMS uses Symplectic Elements, a leading research management platform used by universities worldwide. It automates the collection of research outputs. Learn more.

Getting Started

1. How do I log in?

Log in using your Western credentials via the RIMS login portal. First-time users may be prompted to confirm personal details. Please note that Western is implementing RIMS in phases to ensure a smooth and effective transition.

2. How do I get started with RIMS?

Have a look at our step-by-step guide to get started with RIMS.

3. How do I set up my profile?

Click “Edit My Profile” to personalize your page. You can:

  • Upload a profile photo (JPEG/PNG, max 6.3MB)
  • Add education, research interests, teaching summary
  • Include social links (Google Scholar, LinkedIn, YouTube)

Note: Job title, primary group, and Western email are auto-filled from HR and cannot be edited.

Learn more about how to set up your profile.

4. Can I control who sees my profile?

Yes. You can adjust visibility settings for each section:

  • Public: Visible to anyone
  • Internal: Visible to Western users only
  • Private: Visible only to you and system administrators

5. Can I delegate access to someone else? 
Yes. You can grant permission to research assistants or administrators under Account Settings. If you have any questions about delegating access, please contact rimshelp@lib.uwo.ca.

Manage Publications

1. How does RIMS find my publications?

RIMS automatically imports data from trusted sources like ORCID, Scopus, PubMed, and Crossref. You can:

  • Claim publications that are yours
  • Reject items that aren’t yours
  • Add manually using DOI, PubMed ID, BibTeX, or metadata entry

Learn more about managing your scholarly outputs.

2. How does RIMS handle duplicate publications?

  • Automatic detection: Flags potential duplicates using metadata
  • Merging: Combines records into one entry with the most complete data
  • Manual review: You may need to claim or reject duplicates
  • Admin support: Available for cleanup if needed

Learn more about duplicate publications.

3. How do I improve publication matches?

  • Add name variants and past affiliations under “Claim Your Publications”
  • Link your research identifiers:
    • ORCID iD
    • Scopus Author ID
    • Web of Science ResearcherID
    • Dimensions Researcher ID

Learn more about how you can improve your publication matches.

Support

1. Where can I find help and resources?