Biographical Sketches, Statements, and Executive Summaries

NIH Biographical Sketch

This link is to the NIH's Office of Extramural Research homepage, which links to funding opportunities, forms, and grant policies: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm

This links to forms, applications, and instructions for research grants, fellowships, SBIR/STTR grants, SBIT/STTR contracts, and grant closeout forms: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm

This links to a sample PHS 398 Biosketch, pertinent to several grant applications, including R01, R03, R13, U13, R15, and R21: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/biosketchsample.pdf

This links to the PHS 2590 Biosketch sample for Career Development (K series) awards: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/biosketchsample.pdf

Biographical Statement

This statement identifies your current position, experience, and major accomplishments and is targeted to a specific audience (e.g., research, education, or clinical). You often see these statements about the faculty for professional development conferences, and those introducing you to speak will be grateful to receive a well-crafted synthesis of your qualifications as speaker.

Executive Summary

This is a one-to-two-page overview of your credentials that accompanies your CV and highlights your strengths, accomplishments, and qualifications related to a specific position. Using an Executive Summary may provide recruiters a quick and easy way to set your application apart and to identify your unique qualifications for the position you desire.

• Personal and contact information (address with zip code; area code with phone number; fax number with area code; email address)
• Opening Statement: an optional, concise statement of the work you wish to do and how you would add value to the organization
• Qualifications Summary: a brief overview of how you are qualified for and the skills and talents you bring to the position
• Accomplishments Overview: a list that describes your strengths and accomplishments in a format that shows the impact you’ve made in prior or current positions; this identifies your skills by identifying a problem, setting forth your approach, then reporting the outcome
• Experience: A listing, in reverse chronological order, of your positions, including institution, location, and dates
• Education: A listing of your degrees in reverse chronological order