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Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv): Completing an NSF Biosketch

A guide to setting up, creating, and maintaining biographical sketches for grants.

Overview

Once you have Created a Biosketch and selected "NSF Biographical Sketch", you can fill in or import information for each of the sections:

Identifying Information, Organization and Location

This section provides details about the individual. SciENcv will import some of this information from other biosketches or sources like ORDCID. 

Step 1.

If starting with a blank document, click "Add Information".

a screenshot from an NSF biosketch identifying information, organization and location section with an arrow pointing to the "Add Information" button

 

If starting from a copied Biosketch, click "Edit". 

a screenshot from an NSF biosketch identifying information, organization and location section with an arrow pointing to the "Edit" button

Step 2. Fill in all of the required information. You can also link your ORCID iD, but this is not required. Then, click "Save". 

a screenshot of the pop up to modify the identifying information, organization and location for an NSF biosketch

Professional Preparation

In this section, you should provide a list of education and training in reverse chronological order by start date. Be sure to include all postdoctoral and fellowship training as appropriate. You should also include baccalaureate degrees or other initial professional education. 

Step 1. If you need to add professional preparation (because it has not been imported or copied), click "Add Professional Preparation". 

a screenshot of a blank professional preparation section of an NSF biosketch with an arrow pointing to the "Add professional preparation" button

Step 2. 

a. Fill in all of the required information and then click "Save". 

a screenshot of the "add professional preparation" pop-up box in an NSF biosketch with an arrow pointing to the save button after the information is filled in

b. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until all professional preparation is entered. 

A note for copied or imported data: Check to make sure that all data is correct and complete. Each entry will have a red exclamation point (!) if the imported data is not complete. To modify the entry, click the blue pencil symbol under the "Edit" column. 

a screenshot of an imported professional preparation section of an NSF biosketch highlighting the notifications for fields that need to be corrected by editing

Appointments and Positions

In this section, you will provide a list of all academic, professional, or institutional appointments and positions. These are to be listed in reverse chronological order, with the current appointment listed at the top. 

Step 1. Click "Add Appointment/Position".

a screenshot of the Appointments and Positions section of the NSF biosketch with an arrow pointing at the "Add Appointment/Position" button

Step 2. 

a. Fill in all of the information and click "Save". 

a screenshot of the add appointment/position pop up for the NSF biosketch

 

b. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until all positions and appointments are included. 

For those importing/copying data: check to make sure that none of the appointments have a red exclamation point (!) next to them, indicating that they are incomplete. If they do, click the blue pencil button for that appointment next to that appointment to fill in the missing information. 

Products

In this section, you will include a list of:

  • Up to five products most closely related to the proposed project
  • Up to five other significant products that are related or not related to the proposed project that demonstrate the individual's qualifications to carry out the project
Note: If copying from an NIH biosketch, the system will import "Contribution to Science" in this section. However, unlike the NIH Contribution to Science section, you do not have the opportunity to describe the products here in the NSF Biosketch. 

Step 1. To add products to either the Related or Other sections, click "Select Related Products" or "Select Other Products". 

a screenshot of the Products section of an NSF biosketch with arrows pointing at the "Select related products" and "other products" buttons

Step 2. A box with the list of publications in the associated NCBI "My Bibliography" will open. You can select up to five products to add to the list by checking the box to the left of the listed publication. You can also search and add publications to your bibliography by clicking "Add Product". Once you have selected all of the products that you want to list, click "Continue". 

a screenshot of the My Bibliography pop up in the products section of the NSF biosketch. Blue boxes highlight the options to Add a product and select products in the existing My Bibliography

Important Note: A publication must be in the My Bibliography in order for it to be added on a Biosketch. If you delete a publication from the My Bibliography, then it will no longer appear on the Biosketch. 

Certification

Once you have completed all other sections of the NSF biosketch, you can certify and download the assembled document. Before you do this, you have the option to "View Draft". Click "Download PDF" to certify. 

a screenshot of the certification section of the NSF biosketch with an arrow pointing to the "Download PDF" button

A dialogue box will open. Read and then click "Certify". 

a screenshot of the certification pop up for an NSF biosketch with an arrow pointing to the certify button

 

Your biographical sketch will then download in PDF format.