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 investigators and project key personnel to provide a curriculum vitae (CV) or biosketch as part of a proposal. A biosketch is a detailed document highlighting the professional and academic history of the PI or other key personnel. It 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 their own set of instructions and requirements that must be followed when submitting the biosketch as part of the proposal.
Sponsors, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), request that a biosketch be provided in compliance with their required format. Other sponsors may direct investigators to submit a biosketch using either the NIH format, the NSF format, or a variant of one of these formats. Given different sponsor's requirements, a close review and adherence to each sponsor’s specific biosketch requirements is necessary prior to preparation and submission. Below you will find additional sponsor-specific guidance on biosketch requirements.
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
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 .
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 [NEW]
Each individual identified as a senior/key person is required to complete two certifications prior to proposal submission:
- 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.
- that the individual is not a party to a malign foreign talent recruitment program.
Resources
- See PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.h(i) for complete coverage on the content and formatting requirements for the biographical sketch.
- NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) 24-1
- NSF table: NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support (May 2024)
- NSF PAPPG 24-1
- NSF Biographical Sketch
- Updates to the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF24-1) [VIDEO]
- Research.gov
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
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: NIH Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Attachments (fonts, margins, page limits, etc.)
How to prepare a Biosketch
NIH biosketches must conform to a specific format. Applicants and recipients can use the provided format pages to prepare their biosketch attachments or can use SciENcv, which will automatically generate a compliant biosketch format according to NIH requirements.
There are two biosketch format pages –
- Biosketch (Non-Fellowship): Biographical Sketch Format Page - FORMS-H
- Biosketch (Fellowship): Biographical Sketch Format Page - FORMS-H
NIH will move to the Common Form for Biographical Sketch and a new NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement prepared using SciENcv for application due dates and other submissions on or after May 25, 2025 (NOT-OD-24-163). NIH encourage 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
- Department of Energy (DOE)
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. Additional details of what should be included can be found in DE-FOA-0002414
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
- Department of Defense (DOD)
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
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.
SciENcv
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. 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. Additional information on using SciENcv is available at GW Gelman Library and GW Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library.
ORCiD
Having an ORCiD account is a prerequisite to using SciENcv. An ORCiD is the unique identifier assigned to an individual scholar or researcher to distinguish scholars from one another. To get started, individuals are encouraged to obtain an ORCiD in order to prepare biosketches using SciENcv. OSP strongly encourages GW researchers to obtain their ORCiD account now. Additional information on ORCiD is available at GW Gelman Library and GW Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library.
GW Library Contacts for ORCiD or SciENcv Consultations
GW librarians are available at either the Gelman or the Himmelfarb Library to:
- assist researchers with setting up an ORCiD (Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier) account. ORCiD accounts simplify the process of entering and updating publications in one place, and importing the publication records into SciENcv.
- assist researchers with navigating SciENcv to create and maintain approved formats for NSF (currently in use) and NIH (mandated May 25, 2025).
| Request Online Consultation with a GW Gelman Librarian | Request Online Consultation with a GW Himmelfarb Librarian |
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