Networking is central to building strong relationships and growing as a researcher in academia and industry. A researcher tends to gain recognition through their published papers and citations, but this can take some time and may not happen without some effort. In order to grow in credibility and reach, you must reach out to other researchers in your field, share your work, receive feedback, and maintain relationships for potential future collaborations. And today, many such opportunities are available virtually, giving you easy access to a diverse global platform where you can seek out others in your niche area of study.