Personal Profile

The Personal Profile module in Commons is the central repository of information for all Commons registered users. It is designed so that individual eRA system users hold and maintain ownership over the accuracy of their own profile information. This profile information is then integrated throughout eRA's systems and used for a variety of agency business such as peer review, application data, and trainee data.

Personal profile information is used to pre-populate appointment and termination forms in xTrain. The xTrain system will check to ensure that you have provided all the necessary information prior to routing your xTrain forms back to the PD/PI.

Personal Profile Fields Checked by xTrain

  • Degree(s) – At least one degree is needed (if the stipend level on the xTrain appointment is higher than pre-Bachelor's degree) *see below
  • Race
  • Sex
  • DOB – Date of Birth
  • eRA Email
  • Citizenship

Disadvantaged Background

To provide guidance in answering this question, the Trainee-Specific Information screen  provides a link to further information on disadvantaged background (https://www.era.nih.gov/commons/disadvantaged_def.htm).

Under extraordinary circumstances the PHS may, at its discretion, consider an individual beyond the undergraduate level to be from a disadvantaged background. Such decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, based on appropriate documentation. Trainees beyond the undergraduate level should consult with their training grant PD/PIs for further instructions.

* List of Degrees

xTrain will check Degree information as part of the Appointment process as follows: 

  • PRE-BACCALAUREATE: does not have a Bachelor’s degree
  • PRE-DOC: must have a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent
  • POST-DOC: must have a PhD, MD, or equivalent

NOTE: Trainee should provide information on degrees in progress and their expected completion date.

Use the Add a Degree button to provide new or additional degree information.

Add degee

For more information on the Personal Profile Module, please refer to the Personal Profile topic in the Commons online help.