Name and ID

• Prefix: Select a choice from the drop-down list.
• First Name (required): Enter your first name.
• Middle Name: If you have a very common name, it is helpful to enter your middle name.
• Last Name (required): Enter your last name.
• Suffix: Select a choice from the drop-down list.

You can enter, view, edit, and delete prior names in the Name and ID section. Use the Prior Names section to specify other names you have used professionally in the past (such as maiden, married names, etc.), so that your award data and career progress can be better maintained and tracked in eRA Commons. The Prior Names section is only accessible for NIH official use when completing reporting requirements and will not be shared.

In the Prior Names section, which lists all previously entered names, you can enter new names and update or delete existing names.

• To add a new name, click the Add Prior Name button and complete the fields in the new section that drops down.

• To change an existing name, click its Edit link and edit the fields in the onscreen section that drops down.

• To remove an existing name, click its Delete link, then click the Delete button in the Delete Prior Name section that drops down.

• For account-related communications

  Enter the email address at which you prefer to receive communications from Commons about managing your profile. This will also be the addresses used if no other means of reaching you is provided. Required field. NIH recommends that you use an email that you will have access to even after changing jobs.

• Replace other email addresses?

  Select this checkbox if you would like this account-related communications email address to replace the email address(es) you provided for Grants Communication and Reviewer Correspondence in the other sections of the Personal Profile.

• Use contact information from current job

  Select a job from the drop-down list.

  Remember: you can update your jobs on the Employment section of the profile. A link to Employment is provided next to this field.

• Date of Birth (required)

  Enter your date of birth in the format MM/DD/YYYY or select a date from the calendar icon. Selecting the Do Not Wish to Provide checkbox also counts as filling out this required field.

• SSN (optional)

  Enter the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN) to help eRA identify you more accurately.

IMPORTANT: As a security measure, the Date of Birth and SSN fields are only editable if blank or filled with all zeroes. Once populated with other data, these fields become read-only to prevent accidental updates to the wrong personal profile. Should you need to make changes to either of these fields and cannot, contact the eRA Service Desk for assistance.

• What country are you a citizen of? (required)

  Select a country from the drop-down list.

• Citizenship Status (required)

  Select the appropriate radio button.

For certain LRP applicants who were selected or awardees who are eligible for reimbursement, an additional section titled Loan Repayment Program (LRP) appears at the end of the Name and ID section of Personal Profile. It contains a link to the Secure Payee Registration System; see the topic titled Submitting Banking Information in LRP online help.