For applications due on or after January 25, 2025, NIH will use the Simplified Peer Review Framework to score most research project grant applications. Notably, the new Framework reorganizes the five regulatory criteria (Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, Environment) into three factors (Importance of the Research, Rigor and Feasibility, and Expertise and Resources).
Along with any principal investigators (PIs), include a biographical sketch with research support information for everyone you designate as senior/key personnel or other significant contributors (OSCs). This includes consultants and technical staff with senior/key personnel or OSC designations, even if they are not paid a salary from the grant. OSCs who contribute at least one person month or more effort must be designated as senior/key personnel.
NIH biosketches must conform to a specific format and may not exceed five pages per person. This five-page limit includes the table at the top of the first page. Get the NIH Biosketch Format Pages, Instructions, and Samples, and learn more in the Instructions for a Biographical Sketch and the Frequently Asked Questions on Biosketches. Use SciENcv to help you develop your biosketch and automatically format it according to NIH requirements.
How Reviewers Use Biographical Sketches
Reviewers check carefully to see whether the PI and others have enough experience, knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to execute the Research Plan. The personal statement and contributions to science can be big factors in how you rate on the Investigator review criterion.
Reviewers will evaluate biographical sketches to check that you have asked for an appropriate number of people, amount of time, and level of expertise to conduct the research.
How To Create a Strong Biographical Sketch
Make Your Personal Statement Shine
Don’t skimp on this key section of the biosketch. Your personal statement can be a big factor in how you, the PI, rate on the Investigator review criterion.
All key personnel’s biosketches have a personal statement too, which must explicitly state how their experience qualifies them for their role on your project, including relevant education, expertise, and accomplishments.
Imminent Promotion?
Are you slated for an important promotion, for example, to assistant professor? Include the date it is scheduled to happen in the personal statement of your biosketch. While NIH does not require any particular title, your status may affect how reviewers view your qualifications.
After submitting and at least 30 days before the review meeting, you can inform the scientific review officer that the promotion took place. Follow the rules for Post-Submission Materials.
Carefully Choose Publications
Highlight your team's expertise by listing publications or manuscripts in press for each member.
Describe Your Contributions to Science
Reviewers will assess your experience when they evaluate the scientific contributions in your biosketch.
NIH offers the following advice for new scientists:
- If you have one publication, you could summarize the key finding of the paper and its importance in a short contribution.
- If you have no publications yet, you could provide a contribution that describes your efforts on other peoples’ papers and projects. For example, perhaps you used a certain method, provided the literature review for a paper, or cared for all the research animals.
- If you have no research or thesis experience yet, you may still be able to describe one contribution about your training to date.
Note that you do not have to be an author on the publications you reference. It is up to you how you describe your contributions. As one way to do so, you could choose to list a key publication that builds on your work.
Advice for all applicants:
For each contribution, you may cite up to four publications or research products that are relevant to the contribution. If you are not the author of the product, indicate what your role or contribution was. Note that while you may mention manuscripts that have not yet been accepted for publication as part of your contribution, you may cite only published papers to support each contribution. Research products can include audio or video products, conference proceedings such as meeting abstracts, posters, or other presentations; patents; data and research materials; databases; educational aids or curricula; instruments or equipment; models; protocols; and software or netware. Please note that use of hyperlinks and URLs to cite these items is not allowed.
Special considerations
- For multi-project applications, each Senior/Key Person, including the PD/PI, is allowed one biosketch for the entire application. If an individual will participate on multiple components, attach the biosketch to any single component.
- Applicants for the following types of applications must also include the Scholastic Performance section:
- predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships
- dissertation research grants (e.g., R36)
- research supplements to promote diversity in health-related research from undergraduate through postdoctoral levels
For further advice on biosketches, consult with your colleagues who serve as reviewers in your area of science. Learn more about NIH Biosketch Format Pages, Instructions and Samples and Instructions for a Biographical Sketch.
Checklist
- My personal statement showcases my skills.
- I convince reviewers that I am the right person to lead the research.
- The other biosketches will convince reviewers that members of my team can all perform the roles I need them to play on the project.
- I highlight each person's accomplishments in the research support section.
- The publications I choose reveal my skills and those of my team.
- My biosketches are consistent with other parts of the application.