Join the Institute

The Institute is built around researchers, reviewers, and readers who want science evaluated on its merits — not on where it was produced, who funded it, or whether the author holds the right credentials. Two ways in: merit-based roles earned by contribution, and a paid Affiliation open to any researcher with an ORCID iD. All credentials publicly verifiable.

Verify a credential → Apply for a merit role →

Just want a paper reviewed? You don't need to join or pay to submit. Review is open to anyone — submit your work, and if it's accepted it publishes in Persistence, the Institute's journal, online first, and is eligible for the annual print and ebook edition.

Merit-based roles

Earned by contribution. No fee. Granted by the Institute on the basis of demonstrated work. Every credential holder will receive a member discount on print and ebook copies of Persistence.

Founding Member (FM)

Charter affiliate of the Institute. Closed at 50 total admissions. Term: indefinite.

Curation Advisor (CA)

Advisory role in the Institute's curation direction, rubric evolution, and journal policy. Term: one year, renewable.

Research Fellow (RF)

Affiliated researcher pursuing original work under the Institute's program areas. May author under ICSAC affiliation. Term: one year, renewable.

Reviewer (RV)

The human in the loop. Works through a structured checklist on both the paper and the panel's review of it, and flags what the panel missed, misread, or over-weighted. Term: one year, renewable.

Other (OT)

Honorary or case-specific admission. By invitation of the curation desk. Term: case-by-case.

Affiliation

Open to any researcher with an ORCID iD who wishes to demonstrate alignment with ICSAC. Recurring annual fee.

Affiliated Researcher (AR)

$99 / year

Use of ICSAC affiliation on academic works (within accuracy)
Personal ICSAC ID# (ICSAC-NNNNN) for verifiable affiliation
Digital PDF certificate with QR linking to public verify page
Listing in the member directory, behind ORCID sign-in (opt-out at checkout, switchable later)
ICSAC/Persistence Newsletter (opt-in anytime)
Member discount on print and ebook copies of Persistence, from the first edition
Eligibility for promotion to Research Fellow based on demonstrated participation

Term: one year, renewable.

Affiliate — $99/yr →

You'll enter your ORCID iD and name at secure Stripe checkout. Your verifiable credential and certificate are issued within 24 hours.

Affiliation → Research Fellow

Affiliated Researcher is the on-ramp: any ORCID holder can affiliate and start participating. Research Fellow is earned — through sustained, demonstrated participation in the Institute's work (commenting on cases, attending review sessions, adjudicating borderline decisions, contributing to rubric refinement). Promotion is the Institute's decision; payment does not buy advancement. AR buys affiliation and a clear path to demonstrate fit. RF is granted on merit.

Apply for a merit-based role

The form below is for the merit tiers: FM, CA, RF, RV, OT. The Institute reviews applications on a rolling cadence; credentialed applicants receive a verifiable credential ID and are added to the public registry. Affiliated Researcher (AR) is paid and ORCID-gated — use the Affiliation card above, not this form. If the embedded form does not load, use the direct form link.