It is an accumulative process that needs to be built up on your previously acquired skills and accomplishments. I would suggest deciding a direction for your research career. A direction that is supported by your previous work. Secondly, you would want to find a research gap. The research gap would enable you to decide the potential institutions or peer researchers with whom you could get involved with in a research project. This takes you to networking. You should built a network of relations with people in your field and start hunting for opportunities of doing research and/or collaborating on a certain project.