It is now expected that a researcher has some sort of online presence. At a minimum this includes a University profile page, a lab webpage, and some sort of social media presence, often a Wikipedia page or LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is wonderful for networking, but is not the best option to share a research program. 

A Wikipedia page provides a means to convey information about yourself, your lab, and your research interests and achievements. It's a common source for potential students and postdocs to check, and a valuable resource for colleagues looking for inspiration when writing letters of recommendation or other documents for you. As you progress in your career, it can serve as a means to document how your research interests have evolved and changed over time.

How to get a Wikipedia page

This is where some people start to get nervous, as Wikipedia's stated vision for how it will be used is more aspirational than how it is used in practice. Wikipedia itself addresses this issue, though they also provide a clear set of guidelines to follow regarding starting your own page and they do not explicitly forbid you from doing so. Wikipedia’s article also clearly points out that you cannot control your page. Others can add things as they see fit.

With all this in mind, the best place to start is often by looking at the Wikipedia pages of your colleagues, including both those at a similar career stage to you and individuals further along in their journey. Note how they are structured, what you find helpful and appealing as a reader, and what seems unnecessary or off-putting. Also gather what references are needed to support the facts included in your article. Remember that the way you describe yourself is going to influence how others interact with your Wikipedia page. Avoid hyperbole, and avoid making any statements that are debatable, as they will most likely end up being debated.

Then start writing. Remember that it is a biography, not an autobiography, and that it must be written from a neutral point of view. Include a reference (or multiple!) for each factual statement included in the article. Scientific findings should be linked to peer-reviewed research articles directly or to their summary page on Pubmed. Link to announcements for any awards you list. Error on the side of over-referencing. Also remember to link within Wikipedia itself. Many scientific concepts, terms, model organisms, genes, proteins, methods, etc can be linked to to provide a reader with more context. If a mentor or collaborator has a Wikipedia page, you can link to that as well.

Once you've published your page, make a note to reexamine the page annually (minimally) and update it with any new awards, major research findings, or other achievements so that the page itself conveys a sense of productivity and remains an accurate representation of you and your work. Periodically you might find yourself adding whole new sections to your page if your research expands into a novel area, or make a significant pivot in your primary focus. Otherwise, focus on keeping references updated and links active.