User Account Tiers

There are four tiers of user accounts in Synapse: Anonymous, Registered, Certified, and Validated.  To perform certain actions in Synapse, such as accessing controlled datasets, you must have the appropriate account type. The table below summarizes the user privileges for each tier.

*Your ability to download a file or table depends on your Synapse user type, local sharing settings, AND fulfilling the conditions for use, if any, of the file or table.

Anonymous Users

Anyone can browse Synapse anonymously to review the platform features and resources, including the catalog of public projects, files, and tables. However, some data is completely hidden from anonymous view. Additionally, anonymous users cannot create projects in Synapse, add wiki content, comment in a discussion forums, nor can they upload or download files or tables.

Registered Users

Registered users can create projects and wikis. They can collaborate with other registered users and create Synapse teams. Registered users can also download publicly available data and, if they fulfill the Conditions for Use, they can also access controlled data.

Become a registered user.

Certified Users

Certified users have access to full Synapse functionality, including the ability to upload files and tables as well as create folders. To become certified, you must take a short quiz about the Synapse Commons Data Use Procedure. This activity ensures that you understand the rules and policies that govern data sharing on Synapse. The quiz is 15 questions and should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.

Become a certified user.

Validated Users

Certified users can apply to have their user profile validated. A Synapse user with a validated profile is eligible to request access to mHealth data.

To validate your profile, you will need to establish your identity by providing a combination of profile information, your ORCID, a signed Synapse Pledge, and an external credential. These steps enable greater transparency within the research community, promoting a reciprocal relationship between you and participants as data donors. You will need a validated profile prior to requesting access to Bridge data.

Validate your Profile

On your Synapse profile homepage, click your name/picture on upper banner of the screen, then select Settings. Use the links in the Profile Validation box to:

1. Confirm your user profile is complete including your full name, current affiliation, and city/country.

2. Link to your ORCID profile. Make sure your profile is public and populate it with at least one piece of information about yourself in addition to your name.

3. Sign and submit the Synapse /wiki/spaces/DOCS/pages/2004255236.

4. Submit recent identity attestation documentation. This document must be current within the past month. Acceptable forms of documentation, in English, are:

• A letter from a signing official on letterhead attesting to your identity (template here). Note that you cannot serve as your own signing official.  OR

• A notarized letter attesting to your identity (template here) OR

• A copy of your professional license (e.g., a photocopy of your medical license). Note that a copy of a work or university identification badge is not an accepted form of identity attestation documentation.

You will receive a notification email when your profile has been validated and a badge will appear on your Synapse profile homepage.

User Responsibilities

Regardless of your user status, you are solely responsible for your actions on Synapse. You are required to abide by the Synapse Terms and Conditions of Use and all policies and principles described in the Synapse governance documents. We strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with these documents. Please contact the Synapse Access and Compliance Team (act@synapse.org) if you have any questions.