Creating a Biosketch in SciENcv

The following agencies now utilize the Common Form for Biographical Sketches and Current and Pending Support:

• The National Science Foundation (NSF)
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
• The Department of Energy (DOE)
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

If you do not have a SciENcv account, see this page first: SciENcv: Creating and Connecting the Required Accounts

The Biographical Sketch common form includes the following components:

• Professional Preparation: Education and Training, including postdoctoral and fellowship appointments
• Appointments and Positions: Academic, professional, and institutional appointments, including unpaid and part-time positions. All positions at both your current institution and outside the current institution from the past three years.
• Products: Publications, conference, papers, presentations, websites, technologies, patents, licenses, datasets, video products, software, etc. Should be indexed online and findable.
• Certification

Agencies are able to include additional requirements in the form of supplements – follow the instructions for the agency to which you are submitting (linked above).

Creating a Common Form Biosketch:

1. Log-in to SciENcv
2. Use the “+ New Document” button
3. Name the document
4. Select the appropriate agency from the drop-down menu
5. Select the agency “Biographical Sketch” as the document type
6. Select the data source:
   
   • Use an External Source: this option allows you to import information from ORCiD to prepopulate your biosketch
   • Use an Existing Document: if you have previously created a biosketch in SciENcv, even for another agency, this option allows you to import information from that document to prepopulate your new biosketch.
   • If neither of these apply to you, start with a blank document.

7. Click “Create”

• • If applicable, you will be prompted to select a sub-agency before you can “create” (e.g., USDA)

8. Review and edit any prepopulated information in your biosketch; complete any required fields.
   • If the primary position listed under “Identifying Information” is incorrect, do not edit it here. Instead, under “Appointments and Positions,” select the option to edit your current, primary position. In the pop-up, check the box next to “Primary appointment or position” and then save. This will automatically update the position in the “Identifying Information” section.
9. Confirm that all information in “Appointments and Positions” and “Education and Training” is complete and correct. If you see a red exclamation point, this is an area that requires an update before you will be able to finalize and download.
10. Select the Products that you wish to include in your biosketch. Agencies have different requirements with regard to the number of products to include, the recency of the products, etc., so ensure you are following the guidance from the agency to which you are submitting. Products can be sourced from MyBibliography (in MyNCBI), from ORCiD, or can be added manually.
11. Once you have completed your biosketch, complete the certification by using the blue “download” button at the bottom of the form.
    • The button will be greyed out if required items are missing.
    • Important: Once you have downloaded the form, do not make any alterations to the document. Making changes to the certified document after it has been downloaded will result in an error when you try to submit. Instead, make any necessary updates directly in SciENcv, and download a new, certified version of the bio.

For applications to NIH: The biosketch supplement is also developed in SciENcv, and collects the Personal Statement, Contributions to Science, and Honors information that was previously part of the biosketch.

Questions? Contact ndsu.researchdev@ndsu.edu 

SciENcv Quick Guides:

• SciENcv: Creating and Connecting the Required Accounts
• Creating a Current and Pending (Other) Support form in SciENcv
• Research Security Training