LinkedIn for Biology Students

[TXTiger2012]

Wondering what other biology or science students in general thought about the usefulness of having a LinkedIn profile? I don't plan to work outside of universities or research institutions (although things always change!) and none of my professors have one or maintain their very old page, so I wouldn't be making connections beyond college-age friends who are also on there (and that's the point of FB, not LinkedIn haha). Do y'all still find it useful to have a more public resume that will pop up if you get Googled? Or is it more a waste of time?

[waddle]

I don't have a LinkedIn (like you, I'm not planning to move away from academia) but do have an Academia.edu profile that has nothing but a short version of my CV on it. I linked to it in my emails to potential advisors (instead of attaching it as a file); I think that worked out fine. It pops up when people google my name + my university.

[starmaker]

I find it moderately useful, but I work outside of academia.

If you have interest in collaborating with people outside of academia, or building connections with people that you meet at conferences, it might be useful. Also, LinkedIn has discussion groups, including discussion groups for research professionals in some fields, so you might find it useful to join groups and participate in discussions with other professionals.

[ScreamingHairyArmadillo]

I set one up, not too much a waste of time as it took about 10 minutes. I may not stay in academia, so any government/private sector people I meet would more likely have a LinkedIn profile instead of one on Academia.edu.

[cheshirequeen]

I think that having a professional page listing your educational and work experiences online that will pop up on search engines under your name is always a good idea. Like above posters have said, it takes very little time to set it up, it looks clean, and you have more room to list things on LinkedIn than a 1-2 page, likely curtailed resume.

[TXTiger2012]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I haven't heard of Academia.edu before, so that was especially helpful. Most of the professors I have a friendly relationship with are older and not too inclined to interact through any of these channels, so up until this point I haven't seen any real benefit. I'll probably set something up on one or both- nothing bad comes up in an internet search of my name, but most of the results I do have come from a local newspaper about HS band accomplishments or a scholarship or two, so I'd just like to have a little more presence "out there" for when graduate applications roll around in the fall.