NIH Biosketches with SciENcv
New NIH Common Form Launches Jan. 25, 2026
After multiple delays, the NIH has announced that the new New Common form will be implemented on January 25, 2026.
What biosketch format should I use for my upcoming submission?
Submission date on or before January 24: Use the NIH-specific Biosketch and Other Support forms.
Submission date on or after January 25: Use the new Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support and NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement. Preview versions of the form are currently available in SciENcv.
What can I do to prepare for the new forms?
- Familiarize yourself with SciENcv
You will be required to use the SciENcv research profile system to produce the digitally certified biosketch PDFs. The new Common Forms included an updated interface and streamlined process. This guide's Initial Setup and Creating an NIH Biosketch pages offers a step-by-step process for using SciENcv and related platforms. - Create and update your ORCID
All senior/key personnel listed on applications must have an ORCID, a free, unique, persistent identifier (PID) for individuals to use as they engage in research, scholarship, and innovation activities. The ORCID must be linked to your eRA Commons profile and will be included in the biosketch's Persistent Identifier section. HSL's ORCID guide provides additional information about setting up your account.
I have some additional questions about NIH biosketches.
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Biosketch Overview
Biosketches are a key component of most major grant proposal packages, highlighting the skills and experiences of the principal investigator (PI), key personnel, and core project team members. Similar to a curriculum vitae, biosketches are used by grant proposal reviewers to assess whether the staff has demonstrated the ability to successfully complete the project they are proposing.
Applicants supplement employment history, research output, and previous funding information with short narrative sections that can be tailored to the specific role they will play in the project.
Applicants and recipients are required to submit biosketches
- in competing applications for all types of grant programs,
- in progress reports when new senior/key personnel or other significant contributors are identified, and
- to support prior approval requests for changes in senior/key personnel status and changes of recipient organization.
SciENcv Overview
SciENcv (Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae) is an online platform developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) that allows researchers to create and maintain biosketches required for federal grant applications, including NIH and NSF.
SciENcv pulls information from existing researcher profiles, including ORCID, to help auto-populate fields like education, employment, and research output. The tool is designed to standardize the biosketch process and reduce duplication of effort and will soon be required for all NIH biosketch submissions.
In previous versions, applicants could complete any or all of the biosketch within SciENcv, download it, and continue to work on it in another platform (e.g., Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, etc.). In the upcoming Common Form, applicants will digitally certify the biosketch within SciENcv itself then download that certified copy. As a result, it cannot be edited in another platform after the fact; any later changes will have to be made in SciENcv, recertified, and then downloaded again.
Using this Guide
This guide provides step-by-step instructions for setting up and using SciENcv to create NIH-compliant biosketches, from initial account setup to finalized version.
Initial setup: NCBI, ORCID and eRA Commons
The NIH Common Form requires three linked accounts: NCBI to access SciENcv; ORCID for professional history and research output; and eRA Commons for grant activities.
Creating an NIH Biosketch with SciENcv
Explore the updated SciENcv interface and learn how to add narrative sections, connect research output, and more.
Updated NIH Biosketch fields
Understand the new biosketch sections and how best to respond to them.