Letters of Reference

For Applicants

  1. Arrange to have three letters (applications with fewer than three letters will not be reviewed)
  2. Letters must be submitted by 5:00 P.M. (local time of referee) on the application's due date (late letters will not be accepted)
  3. Letters must be submitted electronically on the eRA Commons reference submission page (paper copies will not be accepted)
  4. Provide the referee with the following information:
  5. You will not have access to the letters
  6. An email confirmation will be sent to you when a letter is submitted
  7. Check the status of your letters on eRA Commons periodically

For Referees

  1. Letters must be submitted by 5:00 P.M. (local time of referee) on the application's due date (late letters will not be accepted)
  2. Letter must be submitted electronically on the eRA Commons reference submission page (paper copies will not be accepted)
  3. Letters must be submitted for the current competition (letters from previous competitions cannot be retrieved)
  4. Letter must include the following information:
    • Applicant's name on top of letter
    • Signature block with your full name, title, institution, and contact information
    • 1-2 pages describing the applicant's qualities that support the applicant’s claim to scientific innovativeness and creativity (provide specific examples when possible). Address the likelihood that the applicant will conduct groundbreaking research in the proposed research area.
  5. Submit letter on the eRA Commons reference submission page (you do not need to be registered on eRA Commons to submit a Letter)
    • Provide your first and last name, email address, institution/affiliation, and department
    • You will need the applicant's eRA Commons user name, applicant's last name, funding opportunity number without "RFA" listed (e.g., RM-19-005), and confirmation number (if submitting a revised letter)
  6. An email confirmation will be sent to you when the letter is submitted

This page last reviewed on April 3, 2019