What is an Other Significant Contributor (OSC) and how can it help my grant application?

 An Other Significant Contributor (OSC) is someone who will contribute to the scientific development or execution of an NIH-funded project without committing any measurable effort (person months or percent effort) to the project. OSCs are not considered senior/key personnel, but they can contribute meaningfully to the project, typically on a limited time basis.  

Including individuals as OSCs is common when including individuals in an advisory or other specific role, such as if you are using an innovative methodology and may need occasional advice from the individual who developed it in their laboratory. Using the OSC designation, if the person is willing to serve in this unpaid role, brings some advantages:

1. Save on expensive salaries.  If you plan to occasionally consult with a high-paid individual from your institution during the course of your study, using the OSC designation avoids the need to budget a percentage of an expensive salary and the associated indirect costs.  Even 2% of a salary at the NIH salary cap can eat into your budget. Keep in mind that most people do not want to work for free.  However, senior investigators who are already close to the maximum allowed effort on grants and expect only a minimal level of involvement with your project may actually prefer the OSC arrangement (see #3 below).
2. It allows you to include a biographical sketch (biosketch) from an expert in the field.  It may be difficult to get the world's expert in your discipline to join the research team.  However, they may agree to serve as an OSC and be available as someone you can occasionally bounce ideas off of during the course of the project.  OSCs are not considered key personnel, but their biosketches are included in the application package, which can strengthen the credibility of your research team.
3. It helps well-funded investigators to stay under the effort cap. A highly-recognized leader in their field is likely to have multiple grant awards. Effort is capped at 12 person months per year, which essentially means that a person can't work more than 100% of the time. If you need a distinguished expert to advise at a high level or be available for occasional questions, including them as an OSC might also make it easier for them to assist with your project without overcommitting their effort.

If the OSC role does not seem appropriate for your external collaborator, here is some information on Consultants that may be helpful: Role Confusion: How to tell the difference between Co-Investigators, Consultants, and others for an NIH proposal.

Grant P. Writer's thoughts on NIH Biosketch Personal Statement: First or third person?

Consistently, one of the most popular posts on this blog is this post from 2011 when the new Personal Statement was added to Section A. of the NIH biographical sketch (biosketch). When writing the personal statement for the first time, new researchers are often confused about whether to write in first or third person. While either is allowed, I recommend writing in the first person.

This week, I thought about the first vs. third person biosketch question for personal statements. A colleague was interviewing several candidates for an open position. One candidate stood out, but not for the best reason. The candidate consistently spoke about themself in the third person. Imagine that every time you ask Dr. Cool Guy a question, they respond with "Dr. Cool Guy has expertise in all of those techniques," or "The way Dr. Cool Guy sees it, this area of scientific inquiry is the wave of the future." It is both peculiar and annoying.

Perhaps this is something individuals are used to if they work with Hollywood celebrities or famous athletes. For example, Alice Cooper and LeBron James are examples of celebrities who are notorious for talking about themselves in the third person during interviews. However, this is not typical in academia, where coming across as too self-important may decrease your opportunities for collaboration. 

Many academics, particularly junior faculty, are fighting imposter syndrome. Others are comparing themselves to Nobel Prize winners and feeling less confident in their successes. In the era of team science, being the person with the biggest ego is not seen as a strength, and so at least in my experience, it is the collegial and humble scientist who is often the most revered. 

Now back to the job candidate situation. When interviewing for a job, would you speak about yourself in the third person? Do you routinely talk about yourself in third person during normal conversations? For most people, the answer would be no. It can be grating and poorly received. That said, the personal statement will be read by reviewers who are considering funding your research. Obviously, your Specific Aims and Research Strategy will have the most weight in your application score. However, why take a chance on turning off the reviewers if your personal statement seems too impersonal? Stick with the first person and tell them why you are the most qualified individual to lead your proposed project.

Friendly reminder: Make sure your biosketch form is not expired!

With major NIH deadlines fast approaching, here is your reminder that the biosketch form you used for your last proposal might have expired. A new NIH biographical sketch form has been released.  The new form expires in 2024. There aren't any major changes between FORMS-G and FORMS-H in terms of format.  However, using the expired form runs the risk of your proposal being deemed non-compliant.  Who wants their proposal kicked back over a biosketch form error? Be on the safe side and update to the new form. While you're at it, be sure you are complying with the latest biosketch instructions. The requirement for reverse chronological order for positions, etc., which used to be in chronological order, still seems to be confusing people.

Still not using MyNCBI to manage your biosketch and publications?

This helpful video explains how to set up your profile.

NIH video tutorial on using SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae to create your biographical sketch

More great advice on the new 2015 NIH Biosketch format

The new biographical sketch format has thrown many people for a loop.  This major change in format and content has caused much confusion regarding how the biosketches will be received by reviewers.  Today I came across this blog post that provides some helpful insight.  Although the author provides a disclaimer that he does not know how his biosketch was received by reviewers, some of the advice he provides, particularly from a PO, may be useful as you develop your biosketch.

Try SciENcv when creating a biosketch in the new format.

This video provides an overview of the sciENcv system.  Given the confusion surrounding the new NIH biosketch format, I highly recommend using this system for the creation and updating of your biosketch.  You can save multiple versions.  Just be sure to select "New NIH Biosketch" when you start a new one, because the drop-down defaults to the old version.   

They were just kidding!

Although NIH recently released a notice requiring the use of the new, more intensive biosketch format, given the backlash from the research community, they quickly changed course.  Yes, you can stop panicking.  The new biosketches will now be phased in beginning with the May 25 deadline.  For details, read the full NIH announcement here.

The NEW new biosketch format is here - pay attention!

Beginning with January 25, 2015 due dates, NIH will require the use of the new NIH biographical sketch format, called Version C.  If you want to get a head start, you can start using the new format now.  Both the new and old formats will be accepted through January 25th.  The new biosketch provides a 5 page limit, instead of the previous 4 page limit.  Rather than simply requesting 15 publications, the new format allows you to describe your major contributions to science.  To view the new format page, click here.

Start off on the right foot with your biosketch

When it comes to "Section A. Personal Statement", researchers seem to spend a lot of time trying to figure out what to write.  After all, how do you sum up your qualifications and expertise in one brief paragraph?  It is like some kind of exercise you might have done in an undergraduate Philosophy course.  Surprisingly, although many of the visitors to this blog are looking for advice on writing their personal statements, they do not seem to be putting the same amount of time into making sure they are using the correct form. 

Are you working on your biosketch right now?  Look at the top right corner.  If there isn't a header that says "OMB No. 0925-0001/0002 (Rev. 08/12 Approved Through 8/31/2015)", then you are not using the correct form.  Find the current correct NIH biosketch format page here.

NIH is planning to change the biosketch requirements - again!

In case you missed the May 16th notice, I will fill you in.  NIH has been piloting a new type of biographical sketch with modified requirements for some RFAs.  They are now planning to expand the pilot, with an ultimate goal of permanently changing the requirements for all biosketches.  According to the notice, the new requirements "will extend the page limit from four to five pages and it will allow researchers to describe up to five of their most significant contributions to science along with the historical background that framed their research.   This description can outline the central finding(s) of their work, the influence of those finding(s) on their field and how those findings may have contributed to improvements in health or technology.  For those involved in team science, it will allow the investigator to describe their specific role in the described work.  Each of these descriptions can be supported by listing up to four, relevant peer-reviewed publications.  In addition to the descriptions of their contributions, researchers will be able to include a link to a full list of their published work as found in a publicly available digital database".  This will require investigators to pay more attention to their biosketches, instead of handing them off to assistants or post-docs for updating.  However, considering how many people have still not adjusted to the Personal Statement and PMCID requirements, I wonder how long it will take for this type of major change to become ingrained in the minds of scientists. 

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.

Copy and Paste are not always your friends when it comes to your Biosketch

I understand the pressure that most PIs and Investigators are under to get their proposals completed on time.  You are juggling multiple priorities, including teaching, maybe other research projects, and a variety of personal issues in addition to trying to meet your grant deadline.  So it is not surprising that, when it comes to your NIH Biographical Sketch, you simply copy and paste from previous renditions to create a new-ish biosketch for whichever proposal you are working on. 

Bad idea.  Your laziness could prove disastrous to the entire proposal, for a variety of reasons.  First, let's say that you haven't taken the time to update your list of publications in the past 2-3 years. Reviewers are busy people too.  They don't have the time to look you up in PubMed and try to figure out if you have any more recent publications.  If they aren't listed, it is going to look like you haven't had any publications in a while, and perhaps give them the impression that you are not a very productive researcher.  Why give research dollars to someone who doesn't produce?

Now, on to the Personal Statement.  This relatively new requirement has confused and perplexed many researchers.  Some seem to view it almost as a personal ad, including many details of their career goals and interests.  Others give it very little attention, creating generic 2-3 sentence summaries of their research focus that provide no actual substance.  The biggest mistake, however, is the copying and pasting of personal statements from one proposal to another.  To truly write a tailored personal statement, one should focus on the goals of the project at hand, and describe in 1-2 paragraphs why he or she has the right experience for this type of project and why he or she is the perfect person for his or her proposed role on the project.  In other words, you need to convey: I am an expert at _____, based on my background of _____, and I am the perfect person to do ____ on this project.   To truly make a good case for this, and convey it appropriately to the reviewers, you can't simply paste something in from another proposal.   

What do reviewers want to learn from my NIH Biographical sketch?

Often, new researchers search for NIH biosketch tips and tricks to help them to best showcase their accomplishments.  The question you should be asking is not "How can I best impress reviewers?" but, rather, "What do reviewers need to know?".  The biosketch portion of the grant application exists not to convince reviewers to hire you for a job, like a regular resume would, but to provide reviewers with adequate information to score your application. 

According to the Center for Scientific Review, the following criteria are used by reviewers in creating the Investigator portion of your score:

Investigator(s). Are the PD/PIs, collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, or in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project?

As you create and review your personal statement and lists of positions and publications, ask yourself these questions.  Reviewing the biosketches of your research team members will also help you to determine whether you are presenting the picture of an experienced research team that has appropriate leadership and expertise to complete the proposed project. 

Volunteering for a local nonprofit is wonderful, and you deserve a pat on the back.  However, if the nonprofit is focused on cancer research and your project will examine cicadas, listing your volunteer effforts on your biosketch is not likely to sway reviewers. Stick to what is relevant and helps to answer the questions listed above. 

The worst personal statement ever

The relatively new Section A: Personal Statement on NIH biosketches is still a mystery to many aspiring researchers.  Aside from questions regarding whether to write in first or third person or whether to restate degrees when they are already listed above, many people just have no idea what to write.  This is tough in general.  How can anyone easily sum up their life experience and career achievements in one or two paragraphs?  However, there are some basics that should be included in the personal statement.  First and foremost, don't forget to describe your experience related to the subject matter being proposed in the application.  If you are an expert in social sciences research and the proposed project is focused on the study of penguin births, how is your experience relevant?  What are you bringing to the project?  If you can't easily tie your expertise to the proposed project's subject matter, how can you expect a reviewer to do this?

So, what makes for a bad personal statement on an NIH biographical sketch?  Here are some things to avoid:

• Failure to adequately link your expertise to the proposed project
• Incorrectly explaining the project and its aims
• Listing information that is included elsewhere in the biosketch without providing any elaboration or supporting information
• Referring to yourself in a way that appears too egotistical (i.e. I am well-known for my work in...)
• Leaving out your important contributions to the field.  Reviewers may not all be in your exact subject area.  Don't assume that everyone has heard of you! 
• Allowing the PI to write your personal statement and not reviewing it.  Take some ownership of it and brand yourself in the way that you would like to come across to reviewers.  Don't leave it in someone else's hands where it may potentially be thrown together and/or look sloppy.
• Failure to be consistent about whether you are writing your biosketch personal statement in first or third person.  If the 1st vs. 3rd question still perplexes you, read this.  Ultimately, pick one or the other and stick with it.

Can I list a self-published book on my biosketch?

Question:
Dear Grant,
Can I list a book that I self-published as one of the publications on my biosketch? I don't have that many articles.

Answer:
Technically, since you can't list anything that is not peer-reviewed, this book should not be included. And really, why would you want to? If the book is truly self-published, it has not been reviewed by any other scientists in your field, so in essence it could be a book full of theories without credible evidence, or a book full of just about anything that you wanted to write. It does not help to show your credibility or productivity as a scientist, so I would leave it off.

NIH Biosketch Personal Statement - First or Third Person?

One of the major changes to NIH biographical sketches is the addition of Section A, the personal statement. NIH does not specify whether to write the personal statement on the biosketch in 1st or 3rd person. It seems that either way is acceptable. The example provided by NIH includes a personal statement that is written in 1st person as follows:

A. Personal Statement
The goal of the proposed research is to investigate the interaction between drug abuse and normal aging processes. Specifically, we plan to measure changes in cognitive ability and mental and physical health across a five-year period in a group of older drug users and matched controls. I have the expertise, leadership and motivation necessary to successfully carry out the proposed work. I have a broad background in psychology, with specific training and expertise in key research areas for this application. As a postdoctoral fellow at Berkeley, I carried out ethnographic and survey research and secondary data analysis on psychological aspects of drug addiction. At the Division of Intramural Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), I expanded my research to include neuropsychological changes associated with addiction. As PI or co-Investigator on several university- and NIH-funded grants, I laid the groundwork for the proposed research by developing effective measures of disability, depression, and other psychosocial factors relevant to the aging substance abuser, and by establishing strong ties with community providers that will make it possible to recruit and track participants over time. In addition, I successfully administered the projects (e.g. staffing, research protections, budget), collaborated with other researchers, and produced several peer-reviewed publications from each project. As a result of these previous experiences, I am aware of the importance of frequent communication among project members and of constructing a realistic research plan, timeline, and budget. The current application builds logically on my prior work, and I have chosen co-investigators (Drs. Gryczynski and Newlin) who provide additional expertise in cognition, gerontology and geriatrics. During 2005-2006 my career was disrupted due to family obligations. However, upon returning to the field I immediately resumed my research projects and collaborations and successfully competed for NIH support. In summary, I have a demonstrated record of accomplished and productive research projects in an area of high relevance for our aging population, and my expertise and experience have prepared me to lead the proposed project.

Of course, the same paragraph could also have been written in the 3rd person to convey the same message.

A. Personal Statement
The goal of the proposed research is to investigate the interaction between drug abuse and normal aging processes. Specifically, the research team plans to measure changes in cognitive ability and mental and physical health across a five-year period in a group of older drug users and matched controls. Dr. PI has the expertise, leadership and motivation necessary to successfully carry out the proposed work. She has a broad background in psychology, with specific training and expertise in key research areas for this application. As a postdoctoral fellow at Berkeley, Dr. PI carried out ethnographic and survey research and secondary data analysis on psychological aspects of drug addiction. At the Division of Intramural Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), she expanded her research to include neuropsychological changes associated with addiction. As PI or co-Investigator on several university- and NIH-funded grants, she laid the groundwork for the proposed research by developing effective measures of disability, depression, and other psychosocial factors relevant to the aging substance abuser, and by establishing strong ties with community providers that will make it possible to recruit and track participants over time. In addition, Dr. PI successfully administered the projects (e.g. staffing, research protections, budget), collaborated with other researchers, and produced several peer-reviewed publications from each project. As a result of these previous experiences, Dr. PI is aware of the importance of frequent communication among project members and of constructing a realistic research plan, timeline, and
budget. The current application builds logically on her prior work, and she has chosen co-investigators (Drs. Gryczynski and Newlin) who provide additional expertise in cognition, gerontology and geriatrics. During 2005-2006, Dr. PI's career was disrupted due to family obligations. However, upon returning to the field, she immediately resumed her research projects and collaborations and successfully competed for NIH support. In summary, Dr. PI has a demonstrated record of accomplished and productive research projects in an area of high relevance for our aging population, and her expertise and experience have prepared her to lead the proposed project.

As with resume and CV preparation, your choice of whether to submit personal statements in 1st or 3rd person is, well....personal. I do recommend, however, that all biosketches submitted with your proposal be consistent in their choice of 1st vs. 3rd person. It will create a more cohesive feel as reviewers examine the biosketches submitted with your proposal.

Read more NIH biographical sketch personal statement advice, including things to avoid, here.

Can I list my NIH Loan Repayment on my biosketch?

Are you confused as to whether to list your NIH LRP on your biosketch? To me, this really is a judgement call. The program is desribed by NIH as follows:

NIH wants to encourage outstanding health professionals to pursue careers in biomedical, behavioral, social, and clinical research. If you commit at least two years to conducting qualified research funded by a domestic nonprofit organization or U.S. federal, state, or local government entity, NIH may repay up to $35,000 of your qualified student loan debt per year, including most undergraduate, graduate, and medical school loans. Loan repayment benefits are in addition to the institutional salary you receive for your research.

Basically, the LRP is paying your loans if you are conducting research. While this technically does not qualify as a research grant, being awarded an LRP does suggest that NIH thinks you have something to offer.

Now, here are the biographical sketch instructions:

D. Research Support. List both selected ongoing and completed (during the last
three years) research projects (Federal or non-Federal support). Begin with the projects that are most relevant to the research proposed in this application.
Briefly indicate the overall goals of the projects and responsibilities of the
Senior/Key Person identified on the Biographical Sketch. Do not include number
of person months or direct costs.

While this does not expressly state that you can or can't include the LRP on your biosketch, I suggest that you go ahead an include it. If you are early enough in your career to have an LRP, it is likely that you do not have 4 pages worth of publications and research projects to list on your biosketch. So go ahead and list it if it makes you happy. To me, it doesn't appear as if you will be breaking any rules, since it is technically NIH supporting your research career.

New Biosketch Instructions for NIH Proposals

NIH just released new guidance on preparing the Section A: Personal Statement. This modifies the instructions to allow investigators to describe personal issues that may have lead to limited productivity, delays in start to research careers, etc.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-11-045.html

In theory, this is a good idea. If you completed a PhD program and then immediately took a year off to care for a family member with a terminal illness, for example, you would be well-served by having the opportunity to explain this. However, I see some potential for bias if individuals "over-share" on their applications. For example, if you are a woman and list on your biosketch that your career and schooling have progressed intermittently because you took time off to give birth to 5 children, you are setting yourself up for potential bias in the minds of some reviewers. If they were already on the fence regarding your ability to manage the proposed project, you are adding another layer to their thought process that does not need to be there. Your proposal and your personal qualifications should be reviewed based on their own merits- not whether a reviewer thinks you can juggle teaching, 5 kids, and a major research project.

Bottom line: If it is an unusual or one-time occurence, explain it in the biosketch. If not, however, think carefully before adding information about your personal circumstances to your biosketch.

Creating Your Biographical Sketch Personal Statement

Under the new NIH Biosketch requirements, all investigators (not just the PI) must now include Section A: Personal Statement on every application. This new section is designed to provide an overview of each individual's experience and qualifications directly related to the proposal being submitted. In other words, this section must be modified and tailored for every proposal that you submit!

Many investigators, including proposal veterans, are finding it hard to write this section. The NIH instructions state: Briefly describe why your experience and qualifications make you particularly well-suited for your role (e.g., PD/PI, mentor) in the project that is the subject of the application. Unfortunately, there are no suggested length or other requirements included. This has caused some confusion and led to many different interpretations of the requirement. For one, some individuals have been writing in the first person, while others write the section in the third person. Based on my personal experience, it appears that at this time both options are acceptable. There is also a major variation in length. Some investigators are including no more than a very vague sentence describing their general experience. This is probably being done intentionally, in the hopes that they can continue to use the same biosketch for multiple proposals, but it does not fully meet the requirements.

How should you write your personal statement? First, remember that the statement is going to be used to help reviewers as they look at the Investigator portion of the review criteria. This states: Are the PD/PIs, collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, or in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project? Look at the criteria and make sure that your personal statement will provide the reviewers with the information they need to make an evaluation based on this criteria. As you may guess, a brief, general sentence will not suffice.

Conversely, it is also probably not a good idea to write an entire page of information. Several paragraphs should be all you need to describe your accomplishments and expertise without overloading the reviewer. See the NIH biosketch example located here.