Tools for Biosketch Updates

If you're an NIH researcher, you've probably heard by now that the NIH has released updated guidelines for biosketches in their grant applications. I've noticed a flurry of discussion around, what are these changes and what do they mean? So, first off, you can see the NIH notice here and the NIH has updated their instructional page for their new biosketch format here. 

Luckily, the changes themselves are few and they include the following:

• The title of Section B has changed to "Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honors"
• Section D, "Additional Information: Research Support and/or Scholastic Performance" has been removed

These changes can elicit a collective groan from NIH researchers who now have to reformat their biosketch for their next submission....unless you are taking advantage of the tools available to you that make these biosketch transitions relatively easy. I'm talking about ORCID and SciENcv.

Yesterday, ORDE held a seminar on Managing Your Biosketch with ORCID and SciENcv. ORCID is serving as the national standard for scholarly registries. Although it takes time to set up on the front end, ORCID can pull publications and grants from a variety of databases, including PubMed and crossref.

Better yet, ORCID can work together with SciENcv to format your biosketch, aligned with the most recent guidelines when you're developing a grant application for the NIH, NSF, or IES, in particular. Additionally, you can make public your most updated biosketch, find other researchers/collaborators, and allow them to find you.

It's important to note that although being set up in ORCID makes updating your biosketch much easier, you should avoid thinking about producing your biosketch on automatic. For each grant application, it's important that you craft your biosketch to respond to the program to which you're applying. Reviewers often report reading the Project Summary or Specific Aims and then flipping to the biosketch to better understand the PI and if they're the best person to do the project. The reviewer is looking for the best project and the best PI to carry it out. So take the time to make sure you're putting your best foot forward for every grant proposal.

Avoid the collective groan next time your grant-making agency announces a format change to the biosketch! To get started setting yourself up in ORCID, below are a variety of tools, including yesterday's e-seminar. 

Resources:

Setup your ORCID: https://orcid.org/signin

Watch this tutorial on SciENcv: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRWy-3GXhtU&feature=youtu.be

e-Seminar on ORCID and SciENcv: https://vimeo.com/529006767