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.
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. 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.
1. How do I set up my profile?
Click “Edit My Profile” to personalize your page. You can:
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.
2. Why do I have a RIMS profile when I haven’t set one up myself?
To get you started, your profile will already include details such as your email address, some publication metadata, a photo if publicly available, and a short biography, which you can edit, delete, or replace.
3. Can I control who sees my profile?
Yes. You can adjust visibility settings for each section:
4. I would like for my profile to show my preferred name. What do I need to do?
Faculty and staff can use Western HR’s Personal Data Form to update or add their preferred name. That will update their preferred name across all Western systems and services, including RIMS.
1. How does RIMS find my publications?
RIMS automatically imports data from trusted sources like ORCID, Scopus, PubMed, and Crossref. You can:
Learn more about managing your scholarly outputs.
2. How does RIMS handle duplicate publications?
Learn more about duplicate publications.
3. How do I improve publication matches?
Learn more about how you can improve your publication matches.
4. Why do I have multiple Web of Science IDs?
Multiple Web of Science IDs typically occur when your name appears in different formats across publications (such as "J. Smith," "Jane Smith," or "Jane A. Smith") or when you've changed institutions or your name over time. The system may not automatically recognize these variations as belonging to the same person, creating separate author profiles for what it perceives as different researchers. If you need any help, please reach out.
5. Can I add publications manually?
You can quickly add publications to your RIMS profile by using a BibTeX (.bib) file. This file format is supported by ORCID, Google Scholar, and most reference managers such as Zotero and Mendeley.
1. Where can I find help and resources?
