Sample of the new NIH biosketch format required beginning May 25, 2015.
We’re pleased to reblog this Strategic Grantsmanship post by Kelly Byram . It is the first in a four-part series of posts about the new NIH biosketch format, which is required for grant applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2015. We will reblog the other posts in the series — plus a bonus post on explaining gaps in the biosketch — over the next few weeks.
Colored pencil photo by Evan-Amos via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
I led a seminar on the new NIH biosketch format earlier this week, and it was rough going. People don’t like change, and, as a result, almost every change will meet a certain amount of pushback. Those of us on the front lines are used to hearing the static from those affected by changes, but this was exceptional (although not unexpected). The online feedback regarding NIH’s initial post in May about the new format was mostly negative and sometimes fairly hostile, and some in the room this week voiced many of the same complaints about the format. I understand the anxiety researchers are feeling with this change; however, rather than go into any detail about the complaints about the new format (you can read them online at the link above and in response to NIH’s post on the subject this week), I would suggest it is wise to accept the inevitability of the change…