2  VULNERABILITIES OF AN EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER
Researchers, earlier in their career, encounter challenges ranging from lack of meaningful mentorship to a pressure to publish (Richards et al., 2019). However, limited funding opportunity has been a more specific problem, experienced by a large majority of early career researchers (ECRs) from low and middle‐income countries, where senior scholars have preferential access to the available funds (Salihu Shinkafi, 2020). The access to private funding, too, is restricted to non‐existent and the cut‐throat competition for international funding does not inspire confidence either. During and after the pandemic, the situation is likely to worsen. But funding is not the only concern. Wet labs have been largely closed for indefinite periods and clinical research has been plagued with concerns of undue exposure to participants and researchers. The scenario could be worse for countries with limited access to personal protective equipment. The effects on the ECR and those aspiring to pursue a research career would be detrimental. So, is there something, which could be done to prevent such an undesirable outcome?