diff --git a/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/models/data/dmp/Researcher.java b/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/models/data/dmp/Researcher.java
index e891ffd78..68b829ce0 100644
--- a/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/models/data/dmp/Researcher.java
+++ b/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/models/data/dmp/Researcher.java
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ public class Researcher implements DataModel<eu.eudat.data.entities.Researcher,
         this.name = entity.getLabel();
         this.status = entity.getStatus();
         this.reference = entity.getReference();
-        String source = entity.getReference().substring(0, entity.getReference().indexOf(":"));
+        String refParts[] = entity.getReference().split(":");
+        String source = refParts[0];
         if (source.equals("dmp"))
             this.key = "Internal";
         else