Establishing yourself as an independent researcher is a pivotal but often isolating career stage. While getting your new program and responsibilities off the ground and trying to make headway on publishing and securing funding, you’re probably simultaneously adjusting to living and working in a new location. This juggling act can make networking a lower-priority task, and yet it’s an important part of finding your footing. In fact, early-career success can depend in part on who knows your work and advocates for it.

Beyond the time and priority constraints in establishing a new program, many early-career researchers hesitate to network, fearing they’ll come across as self-promotional or intrusive. Others make the mistake of assuming that a strong CV alone will open doors. But in reality, academic advancement hinges on relationships just as much as research output. The key is to engage strategically, and not to defer the networking until you’re preparing your promotion portfolio.

Why Networking Is Non-Negotiable in STEM/Health

You’ve likely heard the saying, “It’s all about who you know.” Your professional network supports your professional (and sometimes personal) growth through opening new collaborations, funding opportunities, and career mobility.

Yet, it’s easy to fall into the trap of “heads-down productivity,” believing that if they just publish enough, recognition will follow. Unfortunately, without deliberate outreach, even groundbreaking work may go unnoticed due to academic silos. And, “being visible” can be one of those hard-to-define yet expected metrics among your colleagues or larger organization.

A Realistic Approach to Building Academic Visibility

1. Move Beyond Passive Conference Attendance

Presenting a poster or giving a talk is a start, but true networking happens in the margins.

• Target smaller, specialized meetings where you can have deeper conversations rather than getting lost in massive conferences. If you do attend larger conferences, look at the registrant lists in advance and schedule a few short 1:1 meetings to create connections.

• Follow up with a purpose: Send emails to speakers whose work aligns with yours. Example: “Your talk on [specific topic] resonated with my work on [related area]. I’d love to hear your thoughts on [a specific question]—would you be open to a quick chat?”

• Volunteer for roles: Offer to serve on early-career committees, judge posters, or moderate sessions. These roles position you as an engaged community member.

2. Master the Art of the “Warm Introduction”

Cold emails to people outside your network can often go unanswered. Instead:

• Leverage your network by asking mentors or collaborators to introduce you to someone. Example: “I’m exploring [topic] and noticed [Senior Researcher]’s work on [specific paper]. Would you be comfortable introducing us?”

• Strategic citation: Send a brief email to the person whose work you are referencing in your upcoming manuscript (e.g., “Your 2023 Cell paper inspired our recent study—we’d love to share our findings”).

3. Publish with Visibility in Mind

Beyond high-impact journals, consider:

• Invited reviews or commentaries – Editors often recruit rising stars who’ve been active in the field.

• Social media summaries – Post a short thread explaining your latest paper’s significance (e.g., “Why this finding changes how we think about [X disease mechanism].”).

• Providing expertise for popular media – Journalists and science writers can often use expert opinions for their pieces. Connect with your organization’s press office to let them know you’d be happy to be a source for popular media articles and summarize your area(s) of expertise so they know who to send your way.

4. Engage in “Reciprocal Networking“

Aim to provide something of value for others, in whatever way fits into your current schedule/responsibilities. For example:

• To establish yourself as a connector, start a journal club and invite senior and mid-career faculty to discuss recent papers.

• Collaborate on grant proposals – Propose a pilot project where you take the lead on analysis while a senior colleague provides mentorship.

• Consider how you can help others in your network, such a offering to invite them to give a seminar at your organization or to connect them with someone in your orbit, and send out one or two such emails per month to nurture your existing relationships.

5. Navigate Power Dynamics with Tact

Early-career researchers often worry about bothering senior faculty. The solution? Be concise, respectful, and specific.

• Avoid vague requests – Instead of “Can I pick your brain?” try: “I’m exploring [specific challenge] and noticed your lab’s approach in [paper]. Would you have 15 minutes to discuss [one precise question]?”

• Express gratitude – If someone helps you, update them later (e.g., “Thanks again for your advice—our paper was just accepted!”).

The Long Game: From Visibility to Influence

Networking in academia isn’t about transactions or collecting contacts; it is about planting seeds that grow over time. The postdoc who asked an insightful question after your talk could be a grant reviewer in a few years. The assistant professor you co-authored a preprint with might one day recommend you for a keynote.

At its core, academic networking is about fostering relationships built on mutual respect, shared interests, and genuine engagement. Early-career researchers who consistently show up, whether through collaborations, thoughtful discussions, or supporting their colleagues, naturally build visibility and trust within their fields.