Although being a biologist is fascinating and important, it is also extremely challenging; for no-one is the challenge greater than early-career researchers (ECRs). Being an ECR can sometimes feel like having the weight of the world on your shoulders. Your day job is to answer the most important scientific questions of our time and, if that was not challenging enough, at the same time you have to figure out how to forge your own unique career in a fickle and mercurial world where professional expectations are constantly changing. This challenge can often be made more difficult by the transience of research contracts – ECRs don't always know where they will be living in two years’ time, they are often distanced from friends and loved ones, and can be struggling financially. A number of excellent books and articles have been produced by a disparate array of authors that aim to guide ECRs through the process of building a career while trying to maintain a healthy work/life balance (Yewdell, 2008; Gabrys and Langdale, 2011; Eley, 2012; Stull and Ciappio, 2014; Tregoning and McDermott, 2020; Bartlett et al., 2021). Although it is important that ECRs make use of these (and similar) resources to help them find their own unique career path, it is also key that group leaders, institutions, societies and publishers find ways to help foster the career development of ECRs (see Box 1).

Box 1. How The Company of Biologists supports ECRs.

BiO is published by The Company of Biologists, a not-for-profit publishing organisation dedicated to supporting and inspiring the biological community. The Company uses its income for the benefit of biology and the biological community. Many of its activities focus on supporting ECRs in the vital first stages of their academic careers, offering a number of practical ways to meet their unique needs and the challenges they face (see https://www.biologists.com/stories/how-the-company-of-biologists-supports-early-career-researchers/).

Facilitating scientific collaboration

Travelling Fellowships of up to £2,500 are offered to graduate students and post-doctoral researchers wishing to make collaborative visits to other laboratories (https://www.biologists.com/travelling-fellowships/).

Conference Travel Grants (up to £600) from sister journal Disease Models & Mechanisms are aimed at ECRs wanting to attend scientific meetings, conferences, workshops and training courses relating to the areas of research covered by the journal.

Communication and blogging

ECRs might consider writing for one of our community sites – the Node and FocalPlane – or even joining our ever-expanding group of preLighters writing for preLights (the preprint highlighting service). These dedicated community sites provide scientists with a place to interact, learn and discuss science informally.

Hosted internships

We offer professional internships for PhD students (funded through PhD programmes). Each internship is carefully defined, both with the institute and the individual, and usually involves projects with our journal teams.

Funded Workshop places

Our Workshops provide a stimulating, and equal, environment for leading experts and ECRs. There are usually 30 participants at each Workshop, including 10 places that we fund for ECRs to join. Everyone attending speaks for the same amount of time and ECRs gain one-to-one access to leaders in their field.