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Biographical Sketch (Biosketch)/CV

A biographical sketch (also referred to as biosketch) documents an individual's qualifications and experience for a specific role in a project. Most sponsors require senior/key personnel (Sr/KP) to provide a curriculum vitae (CV) or biosketch as part of a proposal, highlighting their professional and academic history. A biosketch may include information such as work experience, honors and awards, scholarships and funding the individual has been awarded, and publications of work. Each sponsor has its own set of guidelines and requirements for submitting the biosketch, including specified format. Failure to comply with disclosure requirements could result in a number of negative consequences for both the researcher and GW, including, but not limited to, the withdrawal of pending applications, delay in funding consideration, termination of current awards, and ineligibility for future federal funding. GW investigators on federal awards are required to provide comprehensive disclosures, complete relevant training and provide individual certifications in compliance with sponsor specific requirements. Sr/KP are encouraged to conduct a close review of each sponsor’s specific biosketch requirements below for compliant proposal preparation and submission.  

  Please Note: Do not include any sensitive or protected personally identifiable information including social security numbers, birthdates, citizenship, marital status, or home addresses.  Do not include information that a merit reviewer should not make use of or that is not relevant to the person’s position with respect to the proposed project. 

Process

  • GW Investigators are encouraged to create an ORCiD (Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier) account, as a prerequisite to using SciENcv to prepare the Biosketch.
  • Each Sr/KP listed on a proposal creates a Biosketch in SciENcv in accordance with sponsor-specific guidelines.

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    NIH Biosketch format using SciENcv for Applications, Just-In-Time (JIT) Reports, and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR) is required for due dates and submissions on and after January 25, 2022 (see NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-21-110).

    Who should submit a Biosketch?

    NIH requires submission of a biosketch for each proposed senior/key personnel and other significant contributor on a grant application. You must include eRA Commons credentials and biosketches for the project directors/principal investigators (PD/PIs) and all other individuals named on the R&R Senior/Key Person Profile Form.

    Some funding opportunities or programs may also request biosketches for additional personnel (e.g., Participating Faculty Biosketch attachment for institutional training awards).

    When should you submit a Biosketch?

    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.

    Why is a Biosketch required?

    NIH staff and peer reviewers utilize the biosketch to ensure that individuals included on the applications are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research.

    What is included in Biosketch?

    Learn which activity should be reported in the biosketch, other support, or annual progress reports: Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Requirements Related to Biographical Sketch and Other Support for Sr./Key Personnel.

    How to prepare a Biosketch

      NIH applicants and recipients must continue to use the current NIH Biosketch and Other Support format pages until further notice. NIH's adoption of the Common Form for Biographical Sketch and a new Biographical Sketch Supplement originally scheduled for May 25, 2025 is postponed.

    There are currently two biosketch format pages –

    NIH will issue future Guide Notices outlining the new effective date and implementation details as they are finalized. OSP encourages individuals who will be named on applications as senior/key personnel and other significant contributors (OSCs), to set up SciENcv and Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCiD) profiles in preparation for that transition. OSP encourages individuals who will be named on applications, to set up SciENcv and Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCiD) profiles in preparation for that transition.

    Resources

    NSF implemented the Common Forms for the Biosketch all senior/key personnel, effective for proposals submitted or due on or after May 20, 2024, as part of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) 24-1 .

      New Certification Requirement for Research Security Training: Effective on December 2, 2025, NSF Important Notice No. 149 implements mandatory research security training certification from proposers and individuals identified as senior/key personnel. This notice applies to NSF proposal submissions made on or after December 2, 2025.  Research security training must be completed within 12 months prior to proposal submission.  The certification made at the time of proposal submission apply only to the proposed project. Awards made before the effective date are not subject to this requirement.

    Who should submit a Biosketch?

    NSF requires a biographical sketch for each individual identified as senior/key personnel.

    When should you submit a Biosketch?

    Biosketches for each senior/key personnel must be submitted as part of the proposal package via Research.gov or Grants.gov

    Why is a Biosketch required?

    This document outlines an individual's education and training, their appointments and positions, and other information that helps NSF assess how well qualified the individual is to conduct the proposed activities.

    What is included in Biosketch?

    A brief outline of the required information include: identifying information, organization and location, professional preparation, appointments and positions, and products.

    Note: Starting May 20, 2024, biosketches should no longer include information on synergistic activities. These activities must instead be listed in the new Synergistic Activities document.

    The NSF disclosures table provides helpful reference information regarding pre-award and post-award disclosure information for the biographical sketch proposal section and identifies where these disclosures must be provided in proposals and in project reports.

    How to prepare a Biosketch

    Proposers must use SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae to prepare their biographical sketches for proposals to NSF.  SciENcv will produce an NSF-compliant PDF version of the biographical sketch. Proposers must save this document and submit it as part of their proposal via Research.gov or Grants.gov.

    NSF Certification Requirements [Updated]

    Each individual identified as a senior/key person is required to complete three certifications prior to proposal submission:

    1. that the information provided in their Biographical Sketch is accurate, current, and complete.  This includes, but is not limited to, information related to domestic and foreign appointments and positions. The certification language is included in the SciENcv template.
    2. that the individual is not a party to a malign foreign talent recruitment program.
    3. that the individual has completed research security training within 12 months prior to proposal submission. [NEW]

    Resources

    DOD requires a Biosketch for each person who will contribute significantly to the proposed project.   

    Who should submit a Biosketch?

    Biosketches must be provided for each Senior/Key Person and attached to the individual’s Profile in the Attach Biographical Sketch.

    When should you submit a Biosketch?

    Biosketch information is generally required during proposal submission, but updates to the information may be requested as part of interim reports or whenever significant changes occur. Please refer to announcement and award terms for specific requirements.

    What is included in Biosketch?

    Biosketch requirements can vary depending on the DOD agency and funding opportunity. Please refer to the individual announcement for specific proposal requirements. It is recommended that investigators include all paid or unpaid positions with non-profit or commercial entities or academic or research institutions, including honorary positions, affiliated positions, joint positions, participation in Talents Programs, and relevant honors.

    How to prepare a Biosketch

    The suggested biographical sketch format is available on the “Funding Opportunities & Forms” webpage.  The National Institutes of Health Biosketch may also be used. All biographical sketches should be submitted in uneditable PDF format.  Page limitations will be specified in the program announcement.

    Resources

    DOE Biographical Sketch requirements were significantly updated on October 1, 2020.

    Who should submit a Biosketch?

    Biosketches must be provided for the PI, and all persons included in the Senior/Key Person section of the grant application.

    When should you submit a Biosketch?

    Biosketch should be submitted in the proposal as part of one single machine-readable PDF file that contains the DOE Title Page, project narrative, biographical sketch, current and pending support, bibliography and references cited, facilities and other resources, equipment, data management plan, and other attachments. This single PDF file may not be scanned from a printed document and must be attached in Field 8 on the Grants.gov form.

    Why is a Biosketch required?

    A biosketch is to provide information that can be used by reviewers to evaluate the PI’s potential for leadership within the scientific community.

    What is included in Biosketch?

    The biographical information (curriculum vitae) must include the following items within its page limit: Education and Training, Research and Professional Experience, Publications, and Synergistic Activities. DOE provides additional information in the Biosketch Elements and Format table.

    In addition, the biographical sketch must include information to permit DOE to identify individuals who are conflicted with or potentially biased (favorably or unfavorably) against the investigator. Include a section entitled “Identification of Potential Conflicts of Interest or Bias in Selection of Reviewers” that will not count in a page limit. See DOE Preparing Biographical Sketches for additional information on what should be included.

    How to prepare a Biosketch

    DOE requires the use of the format approved by the National Science Foundation (NSF), which may be generated by the Science Experts Network Curriculum Vita (SciENcv).  The use of a format required by another agency is intended to reduce the administrative burden to researchers by promoting the use of common formats.

    Resources

  • The Principal Investigator confirms that an updated certified Biosketch for each Sr/KP is included as part of the proposal packet to be routed for internal review and submission to the sponsor.
  • The Research Support Team checks to ensure that an updated certified Biosketch for each Sr/KP has been included in the proposal packet on the proper format for routing in myResearch
  • The Office of Sponsored Projects reviews the proposal packet to ensure that a certified Biosketch has been included for each Sr/KPin myResearch.

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ORCiD?

An ORCiD is the unique identifier assigned to an individual scholar or researcher to distinguish scholars from one another. Having an ORCiD account is a prerequisite to using SciENcv. ORCiD accounts simplify the process of entering and updating publications in one place, and importing the publication records into SciENcv. OSP strongly encourages GW researchers to obtain their ORCiD account now.  

How do I create an ORCiD account?

GW Library resources are available to assist in the creation of your ORCiD.To get started, individuals are encouraged to obtain an ORCiD in order to prepare biosketches using SciENcv. 

Additional information on ORCiD is available at GW Gelman Library and GW Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library.

What services are provided during GW librarian consultations?

GW librarians at either the Gelman or the Himmelfarb Library assist researchers with setting up an ORCiD account, and navigating SciENcv to create and maintain approved formats for NSF (currently in use) and NIH (pending NIH announcement of new effective date for implementation).

What is SciENcv?

SciENcv is an electronic system that helps researchers assemble the professional information needed for participation in federally funded research. SciENcv gathers and compiles information on expertise, employment, education and professional accomplishments. Researchers may be required to use Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) to create, update, and maintain biosketches that are submitted with grant applications, just-in-time requests, and annual progress reports.  

Where can I get additional information on creating SciENcv?

GW Libraries provide detailed instructions on SciENcv  at GW Gelman Library and GW Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library.

Support

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