NSF has released updated biographical sketch requirements for new proposals submitted on/after January 30, 2023 in the latest version of the PAPPG (NSF 23-1).
NSF has recently made the following enhancements to the biosketch format in response to feedback received from the research community:
- Corrected margins for compliance with NSF policy
- Included the revision date (rev. 01/19/2023) at the bottom of each page
Currently, the NSF fillable PDF and SciENcv are the two approved formats for biosketches.
The new NSF fillable PDF will be accepted until October 22, 2023. After that, NSF will mandate the use of SciENcv only. Even though the NSF fillable PDF is acceptable in the interim, NSF encourages all senior personnel to begin migrating over to SciENcv well in advance of the October 2023 implementation.
Biosketch formatting remains at the same 3-page length with the following required sections:
- Identifying Information
- Organization and Location
- Professional Preparation
- Appointments and Positions
- Products
- Synergistic Activities
- Certification
The SciENcv version will automatically include certification. The NSF fillable PDF version will need to be certified by the investigator by typing out their full name in the designated Signature field at the bottom of the form.
Non-compliant biosketches will receive an error message when uploaded. Please make sure to use one of the approved formats to avoid this.
Staff from NSF and NIH conducted a webinar to discuss the revised formats and demonstrate the SciENcv system. A recording of the webinar will be made available in the coming days at: https://nsfpolicyoutreach.com/.
For more information please visit the following NSF resources: