ResearchGate is a social networking site for researchers. You create a profile, list your publications, and follow others in your field. The platform makes it easy to request full texts of papers directly from authors, which is useful when a paper is behind a paywall and you can't access it through your institution. You can also ask and answer questions in the Q&A section.

The site has faced criticism for some of its business practices and for sending automated emails that appear to come from real people, but for many researchers it remains a practical way to stay connected and share work. It's particularly active in the life sciences, medicine, and engineering. If you're looking to raise your research profile or find collaborators, it's worth having a profile there.