Connect with other researchers and develop yourself

There are a range of networking sites available to promote your research and connect with others. However it is important to check copyright restrictions required by the publishers of any article that you post on these sites.

Academia.edu allows you to follow the latest research in your field.

MethodSpace allows you to network, and share research, resources and debate.

ResearchGate is a professional network for scientists and researchers, providing opportunities for making connections, plus information on conferences and jobs.

LinkedIn is a professional networking site which allows you to share your research with a corporate audience, as well as find information about job opportunities.

For those who don't enjoy networking, take a look at Sacha Chua's blog post Shy Connector, or Susan Cain's TED talk The Power of Introverts.

Social media (for example, blogging, micro-blogging, social citation tools) are becoming increasingly visible and valuable in the research world.

Blogging

Blogs are used to share ideas, both individually and collaboratively.

For information and tips about writing a blog, read the London School of Economics post So you've decided to blog? These are the things you should write about. For a professor's point of view, try Why do I bother?, by Steve Wheeler from Plymouth University. 

The Research Whisperer also has a blog post on how find researchers to collaborate with.

Micro-blogging

X (formerly Twitter) is the best known form of micro-blogging. For just getting started with the platform, Sarah Mojarad has written A beginner's guide to joining Academic Twitter. For more information about using X (formerly Twitter) to promote your research, try Top Twitter tips for research impact by Fast Track Impact.

LSE have produced a helpful guide Using Twitter in university research, teaching and impact activities.

Social citation

These services offer a means of storing and sharing citations, and facilitate academic networking. Citeulike and Mendeley are two of the best known resources of this type.

Ariadne has a good article outlining Citeulike, A researcher's social bookmarking service. You can read a review of Mendeley in this blog post from Library Sphere.

For advice on the use of social media, read Social Media: a guide for researchers, produced by the Research Information Network.

For more information about using social media to promote your research, try the Times Higher Education's (THE) 10 ways to use social media to get your research noticed or Three reasons to use social media for scientific self-promotion from The Public Library of Science (PLoS).

If you have concerns about using social media for promotion because your subject may attract opposition, there are some very useful tips from The Research Whisperer guide Tricky topics and managing your social media presence.

Vitae have produced a Handbook of social media for researchers and supervisors and run social media events for researchers. More information from Vitae can be found on the Vitae website.

For more ideas about how social media technologies can help you, try this online guide to Web 2.0 for researchers, developed at Newcastle University for Arts and Humanities researchers, for some useful tips.

Research Business and Innovation (intranet only) is the central UWE Bristol support for research and related activities.

Vitae provides personal and professional development for researchers.