Supporting Early Career Researchers (ECRs) has been a core part of FEBS Open Bio’s mission since its inception. As a society-owned, open-access journal, the goal of keeping things ‘open’ has always extended beyond published research, encompassing also the opportunities and support available to the researchers behind that research. ECRs in particular play a critical role in driving research forward and shaping the future direction of their research areas. And, as the next generation of academics, independent researchers and principal investigators, we believe that nurturing their professional growth and skill development is vital to the advancement of research.

The journal has been especially active on this front, pioneering a range of initiatives aimed at helping young scientists gain the skills they need to navigate a rapidly evolving research landscape. From sponsoring poster and oral communication prizes, to publishing abstracts from the FEBS Congress and the FEBS‐IUBMB‐ENABLE Conference, to hosting free thematic webinars, and to connecting with individuals at FEBS Advanced Courses, FEBS Open Bio strives to create various avenues for ECRs to gain recognition, learn from experienced professionals, and showcase their work to the wider scientific community.

Recently, the journal introduced Research Protocols – detailed, step-by-step instructions for various experimental procedures. With methods described in greater detail than a standard Research Article, and a dedicated troubleshooting section, these articles are great tool for researchers to replicate procedures more accurately and effectively. Detailed and transparent reporting of methods is crucial for researchers at all stages as we work towards combatting the reproducibility crisis, but its value may be even greater for ECRs who might be trying to become familiar with new procedures. In this way, we hope the publication of Research Protocols serves as a valuable resource for ECRs to build their skillset and boost their confidence at the bench.

As a continuation of our commitment to support ECRs, we are excited to announce the launch of our 'Early Career Reviewer Hub' – a new initiative aimed at providing ECRs the opportunity to develop another important research skill: peer review. The Early Career Reviewer Hub will give PhD students and postdocs the opportunity to participate in the peer review of Research Protocols, under the guidance and support from FEBS Open Bio editorial staff members. Although peer review stands as one of the pillars of scientific research, the opportunities for ECRs to gain hands-on experience in this field remains limited. With the launch of this programme, we hope to support ECRs by giving them the opportunity to build their critical appraisal skills, while simultaneously strengthening this important pillar of research through greater diversity and inclusion of early-career perspectives.

Are you an ECR interested in joining our Early Career Reviewer Hub? Find out more by joining the introductory webinar on 22^nd September at 16:00 CEST, where FEBS Open Bio Managing Editor, Dr. Sara Fuentes, will share more information about how the programme works and how you can get involved. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_l34l6G6vTu-JCaCJfIqUyA