3 Things to Never Say in Your NIH Biosketch Personal Statement

Inspired by this article, here are 3 things you should never say in your personal statement on your NIH biographical sketch. 

1. I never planned on going into a research career.  (Even if this is true, do you want your first impression to the reviewers to be that your research career is only an afterthought?
2. I am the world's foremost expert on XXXX.  (Even if you are world-renowned, there will always be someone else out there who thinks that he or she is actually the world's foremost expert on XXXX.  And he or she is bound to be the NIH reviewer who ends up with your proposal.)
3. My expertise in XXXX makes me an excellent choice for the role of YYYY on this project.  (This is not a problem unless you are recycling from an old version of your biosketch and the subject matter or role you describe is not the role you are playing in this proposal.