I’ve been reflecting on our current registration workflow for DANDI and have noticed both personal frustration and similar feelings from other users, particularly regarding the integration of GitHub accounts that aren’t linked with .edu email addresses. This often triggers a review process that can be cumbersome for us and frustrating for the users.

Proposed Change:
I suggest we implement a more automated verification process on our registration page. Specifically, users could enter a .edu or .gov email address during registration (more can be added as needed). Upon submission, they would receive an email with a verification link. Clicking this link would automatically complete their registration, thus bypassing the need for manual review for these accounts. (the site authentication would not change and would still be under GitHub)

Benefits:

• Efficiency: Reduces the time and resources spent on manual reviews.
• User Experience: Streamlines the process for legitimate researchers, enhancing their initial interaction with DANDI.
• Error Reduction: Minimizes the potential for errors associated with the manual verification process.

For users without a .edu or .gov email:
We would continue with the current manual review process. While this remains laborious, it would occur less frequently under the new system, allowing us to allocate resources more effectively.

I believe this adjustment could significantly improve our registration workflow and user satisfaction. I would appreciate your thoughts on this proposal and any feedback you might have.