Early Stage Investigators – NIH Applications
To ensure that NIH recognizes eligibility as an Early Stage Investigator, PIs are urged to log into eRA Commons (https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/) and ensure that their Personal Profile are up to date. Degree/residency data must be completed before R01 application submission.
After Jan. 17, 2009, the eRA Commons will be ready to accept completion dates for medical residency; please do not try before that date.
Once the PI enters the information, the system will calculate ESI eligibility and display the eligibility end date to the user if he is eligible.
Steps to update degree and medical residency information in your Personal Profile:
- Log into Commons and click on the Personal Profile tab
- Click on the Degree/Residency Info tab on the second dark blue row that appears
- The List of Degrees screen appears
- Either edit/delete the existing degree information or click on the ‘Add New Degree tab’
- If you click on ‘Add New Degree,’ a new screen will appear; fill out the fields and click on ’Submit’
- Once the degree information is entered, the Add Medical Residency button on the screen becomes functional
- Add end date (or expected date) of medical residency and click ‘Submit’ (Entering the area of medical residency is optional)
- You will be returned to the List of Degrees screen where your ‘Early Stage Investigator’ Status will be displayed. (If determined ESI eligible, you will also see an End of Eligibility date).
It is important to note that the ESI status will be updated if the ESI eligibility changes due to the following circumstances:
- Eligibility has expired
- Award representing significant NIH support has been made
- Your ESI eligibility has been extended due to special circumstances
- Degree or residency date has been modified
The PI will be notified if his or her ESI eligibility status changes.
Note: A Multiple-PI application is only considered ESI-eligible if all PIs listed on the application are ESI-eligible.
Related NIH Guide Notices
- NOT-OD-09-034 Requesting an Extension of the ESI Period (Dec. 31, 2008)
- NOT-OD-09-021 Implementing the Early Stage Investigator Policy: Updating eRA Commons Profiles to Include Degree and Residency Completion Dates (Nov. 21, 2008)
- NOT-OD-09-013 Revised New and Early Stage Investigator Policies (Oct. 31, 2008)
- NOT-OD-08-121 Encouraging Early Transition to Research Independence: Modifying the NIH New Investigator Policy to Identify Early Stage Investigators (Sept. 26, 2008)
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