Growing and maintaining a network for early career researchers through the Animal Microbiome Research Group

On November 10th and 11th 2021, the Animal Microbiome Research Group (AMRG; formerly separate mammalian and avian microbiome research groups) hosted its second annual research meeting. This group was founded by early career researchers (ECRs) out of a desire to connect with other early career microbiome scientists—individuals who might otherwise be the only scholar to study wildlife microbiomes within their lab group, department, or institution. Connections among researchers are established during an annual virtual multi-day meeting. During these meetings, ECRs from around the world present new findings and discuss microbiome-research related topics. Connections made are then reinforced using a Slack workspace, which allows for the maintenance of a lasting network. The group's inaugural meeting and objectives have been summarized previously. Here, we provide group updates, summarize the 2021 meeting, and offer a one-year retrospective on the creation of an ECR virtual network from the participants' viewpoint.