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National Institutes of Health Public Access Policy (NIH PAP)

A guide for compliance with NIH PAP

Frequently Asked Questions about Biosketch

NIH has a comprehensive set of answers to common FAQs regarding Biosketch.  If you can not find the answer you are looking for from NIH resources, please contact Deb Werner, Science Research Services Librarian. 

Biosketch and Compliance

All NIH and AHRQ Grant applications submitted after January 25, 2015 require the use of a new biographical sketch (Biosketch) format.  

The new format extends the page limit from four to five pages, and allows researchers to describe up to five of their most significant contributions to science, along with the historical background that framed their research. Investigators can outline the central findings of prior work and the influence of those findings on the investigator’s field. Investigators involved in Team Science are provided the opportunity to describe their specific role(s) in the work. Each description can be accompanied by a listing of up to four relevant peer-reviewed publications or other non-publication research products, including audio or video products; patents; data and research materials; databases; educational aids or curricula; instruments or equipment; models; protocols; and software or netware that are relevant to the described contribution. In addition to the descriptions of specific contributions and documentation, researchers will be allowed to include a link to a full list of their published work as found in a publicly available digital database - See more at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-15-024.html#sthash.aLuyS8Uf.dpuf

Sample biosketches compiled by NCBI can be found here.

Webinar: Create a Biosketch with SciENcv from NCBI (32 minutes)