NIH and AHRQ typically requires use of the biosketch in applications for grants and cooperative agreements. A biosketch is used to highlight each individual's qualifications for a specific role in the proposed project. This is an NIH for, but it is used by many sponsors including federal, state and private.

General Information and Highlights of the Biosketch:

• Consists of 4 sections: Personal Statement, Positions and Honors, Contributions to Science, and Research Support
• Limited to 5 pages
• Figures, tables and graphics are not allowed
• Section C-Contribution to Science, requires researchers to describe their most significant contributions (not to exceed 5). Each description should be limited to one-half page or less and should summarize the following:
• Provide historical background that frames the scientific problem
• Outline findings of prior work, and subsequent effect
• Describe their roles in the discoveries
• Reference up to 4 peer-reviewed publications or non-publication research products for each discovery
• OPTIONAL: provide a link (URL) to a full list of publications.  The URL must be to a Federal Government website (a .gov suffix).  NIH recommends using My Bibliography. 

Principal Investigator's Responsibilities (per Service Partnership Agreement):

• Principal Investigators shall maintain publications in MyNCBI. If designated administrative staff are available, assist with section C-Contributions to Science, including looking up PubMed Central Identifiers (PMCIDs).
• Principal Investigators shall maintain biosketch templates and update with PMCIDs, as needed. Review My bibliography component in MyNCBI for accuracy. Retain versions sent by RSC and work from updated document.
• Principal Investigators shall review key personnel biosketches for content.

Resources

Biosketch Templates and Instructions

• Frequently Asked Questions - Biosketches
• FORMS-D: Blank Template - Biosketch Format Page
• Instructions - Biosketch Format Page
• Samples - Biosketch Format Page
• FORMS-D: Blank Template - Fellowship Applicant Biosketch
• Instructions - Fellowship Applicant Biosketch
• Sample - Predoctoral Applicant Biosketch
• Sample - Postdoctoral Applicant Biosketch

Advance (UCSF Academic Affairs - Faculty Information System)

• The 2015 NIH Biosketch Quick Start Guide - Quick start guide to build your biosketch using the 2015 NIH format in Advance.
• Demonstration of the 2015 NIH Biosketch in Advance - Video demonstration of how to use Advance to build a biosketch in the 2015 NIH format (requires MyAccess login).

SciENcv

• Start Using SciENcv to Create and Maintain Your Biosketch Profiles - Click on the the green button to start creating your biosketch profiles.
• SciENcv Instructional YouTube Video - This video focuses on special features in SciENcv that help users create, share, and maintain NIH Biosketch profiles for federal grant applications. Anyone with a My NCBI account can use SciENcv.
• SciENcv Overview - This page provides a general overview of SciENcv and future direction. 

My NCBI

• My NCBI Login
• My NCBI Help
• My NCBI YouTube Tutorials
• My NCBI Home Page - Tour the new, customizable My NCBI home page and functions.
• Save Searches and Set E-mail Alerts - Save searches and set up e-mail alerts for new results in many NCBI databases.
• My Bibliography: Public Access Compliance - Link funding to your citations and manage compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy.
• My Bibliography - How to use the My Bibliography component of My NCBI.
• Save Search Results in Collections, including Favorites - How to save your search results in Collections, including the Favorites collection.
• RMS Introduction to My NCBI Webinar (presented by Matthew Gilreath and Valerie Pascual)

 PubMed Central (PMC)

• PMC - is a free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature at the U.S. National Instituties of Health's National Library of Medicine (NIH/NLM)
• What is a PMCID and Why do I need it? - NIH Public Access Policy page provides guidance, training, policy details and FAQs.
• UCSF Compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy - the UCSF Library provides guidance and reports to monitor articles.

UCSF Faculty and Staff

• Quick Tips on Improving Application Scores Using the New NIH Biosketch (video) - NIH study section reviewer Dr. Ruth Greenblatt (UCSF Department of Clinical Pharmacy) shares quick tips on how to improve application scores by optimizing use of the new NIH biosketch format. Click here for Dr. Greenblatt's slides.
  
• How to Do the NIH Biosketch - handout used in conjunction with Dr. Ruth Greenblatt's presentation.
• How to get the URL to a customized bibliography from MyNCBI (Collections) - contributed by Ray Herrman

Misc.

• SF424 Forms and Application Page

If you have additional questions, please contact GrantsInfo@nih.gov or (301) 435-0714.