NIH BIOSKETCH Nancy Myers Sims Grants Contracts Development

NIH BIOSKETCH Nancy Myers Sims, Grants & Contracts Development Specialist California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

NIH BIOSKETCH A Biosketch is a faculty member’s curriculum vitae presented in a specified format California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

NIH BIOSKETCH Required for • All Senior Personnel • Key Personnel • Other Significant Contributors • All people who play a substantive role in the project California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

About BIOSKETCHES • Biosketches highlight key personnel and other significant contributors’ relevant experience and/or qualifications • Biosketches demonstrate that the PI and staff have enough experience to execute the research plan • Biosketches are required for these people even if they show no specific effort on the project and aren’t being paid from the grant. • Biosketches are specific to a proposed project California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

MAJOR SECTIONS of BIOSKETCH • Header • Personal Statement*** • Positions and Honors • Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications • Research Support California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Specifications for Biosketch • Not to exceed four (4) pages • Header Info – Name, Position (at university, not on grant), e. RA Commons username, Education (beginning with Bacc). • Personal Statement – Very important. Will review separately. • Positions and Honors – List in chronological order, concluding with present position • Selected Peer-reviewed Pubs – key word “selected. ” No more than 15. • Research support – ongoing and completed research projects for past 3 years California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Biosketch Header The Header contains personal and educational information California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Biosketch Header Information on the NIH Biosketch header should be consistent with information in e. RA Commons California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Personal Statement • Tell a story of how your own background intersects with the project at hand • Don’t list publications and achievements again in a narrative format • List your strengths that aren’t apparent from pubs and educational sections California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Personal Statement • Write in 1 st or 3 rd person (I/The PI) • Begin by stating the goal of project • State experience and qualifications that make you well-suited for your role in this specific project California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Personal Statement What makes for a BAD Personal Statement? • Failure to adequately link your expertise to the proposed project • Incorrectly explaining the project and its aims • Listing info included elsewhere in biosketch without providing elaboration or supporting info • Egotistical reference to yourself • Omitting your important contributions to the field • Letting someone else write your Personal Statement and submitting it without your review • Failure to be consistent with 1 st and 3 rd person California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Personal Statement While the personal statement may not make a huge difference in your grant’s fundability, it could make a difference if you’re close to the funding line and need just that extra bit to push you over into the black (that means funded) range California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Common Problems in Biosketches • Including Current & Pending support instead of current (on-going) and completed support • Incomplete or incorrect data • Including % of effort on projects • Adding budget amounts to projects California State University, Fresno – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs