diff --git a/server/auth-orcid/orcid.js b/server/auth-orcid/orcid.js
index 2ff9cb1f16686bb232f5048439afd4e9812f454c..70f8e317e987114cf4f2313511df3acc69309652 100644
--- a/server/auth-orcid/orcid.js
+++ b/server/auth-orcid/orcid.js
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ module.exports = app => {
 
             user.defaultIdentity.name = `${userDetails.firstName} ${userDetails.lastName}`
             user.defaultIdentity.aff = userDetails.institution
+
+            if (process.env.INSTANCE_NAME === 'elife') {
+              user.admin = true
+            }
+
             user.saveGraph()
             firstLogin = true
           }