Networking for Researchers

As a member of research staff, you will likely have already had your first taste of networking at academic conferences, events and lectures. This can make some people uncomfortable. Networking is a hard skill to master for some people, for others, it comes naturally. You may not have ever had to network before, or you might have some experience, but how do you do it and do it well?

This section will direct you to resources to help you to develop networking skills that will help you in your academic career. If you don’t intend on staying in academia, you could still benefit from developing these skills.

External Resources

Vitae - Great articles on effective networking as a researcher and importance of self confidence for researchers.

About.com - Although not from an research perspective, this article gives 10 conference networking tips which you may find helpful.

Effective Networking Videos - Although aimed at PGRs, the guidance provided is useful for all.

Inside Higher Ed - The Inside Higher Ed website provides guidance on building your network, with specific tips on how to do so.

Jobs.ac.uk  - ‘How to Develop Successful Networking Skills in Academia’ article aimed primarily at those wanting to develop a career in academia.

LinkedIn Blog - Although not written for academics, this blog post gives 6 secrets to better networking at conferences. 

Nature Blog - Although aimed at PGRs, there are a number of helpful tips on networking, along with articles on how researchers network, the importance of informal networks and LinkedIn tips for scientists.

Thesis Whisperer - This blog article has a crash course on socialising at a scientific conference dinner, which contains a number of helpful tips. Also, a useful article on the Top 5 ways to better academic networking.