2025 Federal Administration Transition Information & Resources - This will be updated as new information is available.

Stanford
Office of Research Administration

NSF Biosketch Resources

The NSF requires a biographical sketch for each individual identified as senior/key personnel. See PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.h(i) for complete coverage on the content and formatting requirements for the biographical sketch.

Th biosketch 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.

The NSF common disclosure form for the Biographical Sketch is exclusively available in SciENcv.  The common Biosketch form has no page limitations and incorporates the following:

  • Report all academic, professional, or institutional affiliations, positions and appointments regardless of whether they are:
    • Domestic or foreign
    • Paid or unpaid
    • Full-time, part-time, or voluntary (including adjunct, visiting or honorary)
    • Provided through Stanford OR provided directly to the individual

Biosketch Notes

  • NSF has clarified for professional appointments, senior/key personnel must only identify all domestic and foreign professional appointments and positions outside of the primary organization, i.e., outside of Stanford for Stanford investigators, for a period of up to three years from the date the proposer submits the proposal to NSF for funding consideration.
  • If an investigator is on an advisory board or advisory committee outside of the proposing organization i.e. Stanford, it must be included in the appointment section of the biosketch.
  • Typically, journal reviewers are provided as appointments.  However, they could be used as a synergistic activity*.
  • Many faculty use the fact that they have served on a review committee as a synergistic activity*.

*With the May 2024 implementation of the common forms, the Synergistic Activities section has been removed from the biographical sketch and must now be submitted as a separate senior/key personnel document.

Certification

Each senior/key person is required to complete the following certifications regarding the information provided in their Biographical Sketch when they download the form from SciENcv.  

Certification of disclosure documents must be completed by each senior/key person from their own SciENcv account and may NEVER be delegated.

  • I certify that the information provided is current, accurate, and complete. This includes but is not limited to information related to domestic and foreign appointments and positions.
  • I also certify that, at the time of submission, I am not a party in a malign foreign talent recruitment program.
  • Misrepresentations and/or omissions may be subject to prosecution and liability pursuant to, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. §§ 287, 1001, 1031 and 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733 and 3802.

Additional Biosketch Resources

Need further assistance? Have questions and/or feedback? Please submit questions and/or feedback and a member of the ORA-RMG Disclosures Team will respond to you shortly.