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

Stanford
Office of Research Administration

Biosketches

Most sponsors require investigators and project senior/key personnel to provide a curriculum vitae (CV) or biographical sketch as part of a proposal. Many sponsors request biosketches in the format specified by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), or a variant of one of these.  It is highly important to always closely review and adhere to each sponsor’s specific CV/biosketch requirements when preparing these documents.  Moreover, many federal research agencies are now or moving towards requiring investigators to certify the information included in their biosketches is accurate, complete, and adheres to given sponsor's requirements.

SciENcv

  • SciENcv - Biosketch & Current and Pending (Other Support) Power Tool - Required for the preparation of NSF Biosketches and Current & Pending (Other) Support.  Optional for NIH Biosketches (currently, see below for future plans)
    • The NSF and the NIH/National Library of Medicine hosted a webinar to discuss the revisions to Common Biosketch and Current & Pending (Other) support forms that are being implemented by the NSF for proposals submitted on or after May 20, 2024, as well as provided a demonstration of the revised functionality to create and download these required proposal documents in SciENcv on April 24, 2024. The webinar recording is available at the NSF’s Policy Office Outreach website.

NIH Biosketch

NIH Disclosures - Stanford Guidance

Updated March 25, 2025 - To further support a successful transition to the Common Forms, NIH is postponing the May 25, 2025 implementation for all applications and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs). NIH will issue future Guide Notices outlining the new effective date and additional implementation details as they are finalized.  NIH applicants and recipients must continue to use the current NIH Biosketch and Other Support format pages for applications, Just-in-Time (JIT) and RPPRs.  Learn More here

The NIH had planned on implementing the Common Forms (Biosketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support) for all applications and RPPRs submitted on or after May 25, 2025.  Applicants/Recipients would be required to use Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) for completing and certifying the Common Forms (NOT-OD-24-163).  Upon implementation, the NIH also will require all Senior/Key Personnel to link their ORCID ID into SciENcv to complete Common Forms and the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement* to produce digitally certified PDFs for use in application submission. 

  • Significant Biosketch Changes:
    • Two Forms (SciENcv will combine the two forms into one PDF document when investigators download and certify from SciENcv):
      1. Biographical Sketch Common Form (Professional Preparation, Appointment and Positions, Products)
        • Up to 10 products total will be allowed on the NIH Common Form, categorized into two subsections:
          • Up to 5 products most closely related to the proposed project (aligns with products formerly in Personal Statement).
          • Up to 5 Other Significant Products (aligns with products formerly in Contributions to Science).
          • Narrative text will be captures in the Biographical Sketch Supplement*.
      2. *NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement (Personal Statement, Contributions to Science, and Honors)
        • Personal Statement - 3,500 character limit
        • Contributions to Science - up to 5 entries, each no more than 2,000 characters
        • Honors - 15 entries max

  • Reminder: Until the Common Forms are fully adopted by NIH, NIH requests applicants and recipients use the current NIH Biosketch and Other Support formats for applications, Just-in-Time (JIT) Reports, and RPPRs.

NSF Biosketch

NSF Disclosures - Stanford Guidance 

  • Effective 10/23/23, use of SciENcv is mandatory for preparation of NSF biosketches.
  • PIs and Senior/Key personnel are required to certify that the information within their NSF biosketch is current, accurate, and complete.  The certification language is included within SciENcv.  SciENcv records an individual’s certification when they download their biosketch from SciENcv.  The certification of NSF biosketches MAY NOT be delegated to administrators.

NSF Implementation of the Common Form for Biographical Sketch -  Effective for proposals submitted or due on or after May 20, 2024 

NSF Proposal & Award Policy and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) NSF 24-1 - Implements required use of the Common Forms for Biosketches) The common disclosure form for the Biographical Sketch is NOW available in SciENcv.  The common Biosketch form has no page limitations and incorporates the following:

  • 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:
    • 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.
  • The Synergistic Activities section has been removed from the biographical sketch and must now be submitted as a separate senior/key personnel document.
  • Common form definitions including, but not limited to what are academic, professional, or institutional positions and appointments as well as what constitutes a malign foreign talent recruitment program.

The NSF and the NIH/National Library of Medicine hosted a webinar to discuss the revisions to Common Biosketch and Current & Pending (Other) support forms that are being implemented by the NSF for proposals submitted on or after May 20, 2024, as well as provided a demonstration of the revised functionality to create and download these required proposal documents in SciENcv on April 24, 2024. The webinar recording is available at the NSF’s Policy Office Outreach website.

Additional NSF Biosketch Resources

DoD Key Personnel Disclosures

DoD Disclosures - Stanford Guidance

DoE Key Personnel Disclosures

DoE Disclosures - Stanford Guidance

NASA Key Personnel Disclosures

NASA Disclosures - Stanford Guidance

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