NIH biosketch
Definition
An NIH biosketch is the biographical sketch each senior or key person submits with an NIH application, documenting their training, positions, products, and contributions to science. As of 2026 it is made in SciENcv as a federal Common Form plus an NIH supplement.
How it works
The NIH biosketch works as reviewers' main evidence that the team can do the proposed work. Since 2026, NIH requires the federal Common Form for biographical sketches, created and certified in SciENcv, plus an NIH-specific supplement. As of October 2026:
- Common Form sections. Professional preparation, appointments and positions, products (including up to five other significant products), and honors.
- NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement. A personal statement (up to 3,500 characters, no citations) and up to five contributions to science (up to 2,000 characters each, no citations).
- Certification. Each person must certify their own forms in SciENcv. Delegates can help prepare them but cannot certify.
- ORCID. An ORCID iD linked to the person's eRA Commons account is required.
- Enforcement. Since May 8, 2026, NIH blocks applications, Just-in-Time submissions, and progress reports that use non-compliant forms.
The older free-form Word template, with its five-page limit, no longer applies to NIH applications. Character limits replace the page limit.
Why it matters for applications
The biosketch matters because reviewers use it to judge Expertise and Resources, one of the three factors in NIH's simplified review framework for research project grants. The personal statement is the place to explain why this person is suited to this project, including any gaps in productivity. For fellowship and career awards such as F31 and F32 fellowships and K awards, the biosketch carries even more weight because the candidate is part of what is being reviewed.
Biosketch vs Current and Pending (Other) Support
The biosketch describes a person's background and qualifications, while Current and Pending (Other) Support lists all their active and proposed research funding and resources. NIH moved both to federal Common Forms in SciENcv at the same time, and they are often prepared together during Just-in-Time.
Common mistakes
- Using an old Word template that the submission system will reject.
- Waiting for a delegate to certify; only the person named on the biosketch can.
- Writing a generic personal statement instead of one tailored to the project.
- Forgetting to regenerate forms after NIH format updates.
NIH has updated this process several times since 2025, so check the current SciENcv and NIH biosketch instructions before each submission.
Frequently asked questions
The current NIH biosketch has no page limit. Since NIH moved to the SciENcv Common Form in 2026, it uses character limits instead, such as 3,500 characters for the personal statement.
Yes. As of 2026, NIH requires the Common Form biosketch and NIH supplement to be created and certified in SciENcv, and blocks submissions with non-compliant forms.
The personal statement explains why you are well suited to your role in the project, drawing on your training and experience, in up to 3,500 characters without citations.