Writing An Effective NIH Biosketch
National Institute of Health (NIH) reviewers have the difficult task of identifying promising innovations and identifying the teams that can turn that innovation into a workable project that will lead to commercialization and improvements in public health. If you are reading this post, it is likely that you are one of the senior/key personnel or even the Principal Investigator (PI) of the project. If this is the case, your background and ability to complete the project is of particular interest to NIH reviewers. A biosketch is a critical tool for researchers seeking NIH grants and other federal funding. It is carefully crafted overview of the key personnel’s research experience, publications, honors, and awards. A well-crafted biosketch allows you to stand out from the competition when applying for grants and can be the deciding factor in whether you receive funding. In this post, we’ll introduce the basics of an effective biosketch and also some of the pitfalls that applicants fall into when developing their biosketch.
Required Sections
Following the template and format is incredibly important for successfully submitting any of the SBIR/STTR grant application documents. Biosketches are no different, so make sure to review the instructions provided by the NIH. Our post will go through the sections and what you need to accomplish for each section. To create a successful biosketch, it is important to understand the NIH requirements and guidelines. A biosketch should include information on your educational and professional background, research accomplishments, publications, presentations, major contributions to science, engineering, health or education, awards or honors received, collaborations, and other relevant experience.
Basic Information
Name
eRA Commons Username: This is required for all Senior/Key Personnel. If you are unsure of what an eRA Commons Username is, go to FIND LINK FOR QUESTION ON THIS.
Position Title: This is the title that you have regarding the specific project that you are submitting a grant application for.
Education/Training: In addition to providing your degrees, make sure to include the name and location of the institution you received your degrees from and the month and year for when you completed that degree.
Personal Statement
When crafting your personal statement for an NIH grant application, it's essential to showcase why you're well-suited for the project. Begin by briefly sharing your highest degree and any specific training directly relevant to the project. Follow this with a highlight of your practical experience, emphasizing key aspects that showcase your deep understanding of your project. Demonstrate your proficiency in making use of tools and techniques, underscoring how it contributes to the overall success of the proposed research. Emphasize your teamwork skills and any relevant collaborations or affiliations that enrich your approach to the project. In discussing your past performance, focus on achievements and contributions in related fields over the past three years. Additionally, spotlight up to four key publications or products. Craft a concise and focused narrative that distinctly positions your background and contributions, demonstrating why you are the ideal candidate for the NIH grant.
Positions, Scientific Appointments and Honors
In detailing your current positions and scientific appointments for NIH grant applications, organize the information in reverse chronological order. Include all affiliations, whether domestic or foreign, with entities or governments. This encompasses academic, professional, or institutional appointments, whether compensated or voluntary, and regardless of full-time or part-time status. For individuals not presently at the applicant organization, provide the anticipated position and expected start date. Additionally, highlight relevant academic and professional achievements and honors. Ensure clarity and coherence in presenting this information to enhance the strength of your NIH grant application.
Contributions to Science
A strong Contribution to Science section will help highlight up to five significant contributions for each senior/key person. To maximize the value of this section, tailor these contributions to demonstrate preparedness and capacity for the current grant application. Lack of tailoring is an easier error to make, but an error, nevertheless.
For each contribution, make sure to cover the following essential details:
Historical Background:
Briefly outline the historical context framing the scientific problem. This provides the reviewer with the necessary context to understand your contribution to the project.
Findings and Influence
Clearly focus on both the findings from the project as well as the influence this had. You may want to discuss how this project inspired or provided foundation for later projects or how the finding contributed to the progress of science and its application to health and technology.
Your Role in the Work:
As this is a biosketch, it is important to highlight your own role in the project. Integrating this with the background and findings will help you tell a concise and informative narrative about your ability to contribute to meaningful projects.
Include Citations
Each entry is permitted up to four citations to published work that is relevant to the described project. These cannot be links. However, you do have the option to provide a hyperlinked URL to a full list of your published work so long as it is to a Federal Government website such as My Bibliography.
A final note on formatting this section. You will need to be concise here as the NIH wants each contribution to be approximately one-half page in length. We recommend numbering each and then aiming for approximately 350 to 400 words including your citations.
Effective Style
Good formatting goes a long way, but you will also want to strongly consider your writing style. We have previously written about the importance of style when writing for SBIR/STTR grant applications. Given the limited space available (no more than five pages), a concise style will also serve you well for a biosketch. This could include including bullet points or using bold formatting to draw attention to certain key phrases or experiences. This helps you better accomplish your goal of not only highlighting past successes but also providing insight into who you are as a researcher and how you would fit into their research environment. Showcase your experience but also be sure to emphasize how this experience has shaped your current capabilities and prepared you for future success with their grant program. Your enthusiasm about the project will add credibility to your proposal - make sure that comes through in your writing.
Language choices will make a difference here as well. When possible, try to reduce reliance on project specific jargon and instead focus on concrete and vivid language when describing your experiences or projects. It will also be important to describe your own contributions using confident language, but not overly grandiose. Humble word choices along with descriptive language will give an NIH reviewer valuable insight into your collaborative nature.
Finally, proofreading is one of the most important aspects of creating an effective biosketch - don’t forget it! Double-check any facts listed for accuracy; typos can easily be misread when reading quickly so make sure everything looks right before submitting with your application package!
Many people struggle to write about their own accomplishments successfully. Either they have a hard time being concise or are overcome with humility and simply do not provide enough of an argument in support of their own work. At Blue Haven Grant Consultants, we understand the importance of biosketches and we also have over a decade of experience refining applications to increase the likelihood that they are funded. As part of our personalized approach, we’re here to help you tailor all of your SBIR/STTR application materials so that you have the highest opportunity to get funded. The NIH reviewers need to know who you are and what you’re capable of, and that’s not always an easy task to manage on your own. We’re here to help you write a compelling and concise document that separates you from other applicants. Ready for your next step? Schedule a free consultation so we can discuss your innovation and application strategy.