Sharing and being successful as an early-career researcher

Presented May 19, 2014 at the University of North Texas Open Access Symposium, The Business and Economics of Open Access.

Not all scientists have access to the scientific literature. Students and researchers in Mexico, for example, struggle to get the information they need to keep current in their fields. Open access (OA) to the scientific literature is urgently needed worldwide, and it will take the support of scientists at all career levels to make it happen. Early-career researchers are in a position to be game changers, ushering in a new era of openness in science. However, many researchers have concerns about publishing OA, including: the visibility and impact of their work; their prospects for obtaining employment, grants, and tenure; and the associated costs (article processing charges). I tackle each of these concerns in turn, and argue that there are many ways in which early-career researchers can share their work and be successful. I also discuss how those at more advanced career levels can support early-career researchers in being open.