NIH eRA Commons

Last Updated: April 22, 2024 9:24:34 AM PDT

eRA Commons is an online interface where grant applicants, recipients, and federal staff at NIH and grantor agencies can access and share administrative information relating to research grants. Principal Investigators and postdoctoral personnel funded by NIH are required to be registered with the Commons, and to include their Commons user name in their proposals.

Registration in eRA Commons

To be able to use the NIH eRA Commons you must be registered as a user.

Principal Investigators and postdoctoral personnel funded by NIH are required to be registered with the Commons and to include their Commons user name in their proposals.

General Campus Units: Online Form

Heath Sciences Units: Email requests directly to Elizabeth Tang and they will be processed within 24-48 hours.

First Name
Middle Name or Initial (optional)
Last Name
Email Address
Role (PI, Postdoc, ASST)
Preferred user name (6-20 characters of letters, numbers, &/or the following special characters: hyphen - , underscore _ , period . , or at sign @

For an at a glance look at roles, and the privileges associated with those roles, please see the roles and privileges matrix.

eSNAP

All non-competing continuation applications subject to the Simplified Non-competing Award Process (SNAP) must be submitted electronically via the Commons as eSNAP proposals. The UCSD Signing Officials (SOs) have delegated "submit" authority for eSNAPS to UCSD Principal Investigators (PIs).

Who needs to be registered

Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) is responsible for registering Principal Investigators (PI)s, Training Grant Business Officials (BO), Postdoctoral Staff (POSTDOC), Mentors of Fellows (SPONSOR), and Assistants (ASST), who are affiliated with UCSD.

Only PD/PIs are required to have a Commons User Name for competing proposal submission.
PostDocs need a Commons User Name for continuations.

Co-Investigators or other Key Personnel are not required to have a Commons User Name. There are currently no Commons roles appropriate for personnel in those positions. Do not request registration for Co-Investigators or other Key Personnel.

Resources for eRA Commons

NIH eRA Commons: Registration and accounts
NIH eRA: extensive instructions for pre-award and post-award use of the eRA Commons
NIH's Hands-on Guide to Electronic Submission and the NIH eRA Commons (PPT): PowerPoint presentation of step-by-step process for submitting electronic applications and for accessing proposals and awards
NIH eRA Commons User Guide: information on how to use the Commons
NIH eSNAP Users Guide: explains the process for submitting continuation applications
Introduction to the xTrain system
xTrain website: explains how to submit training grant appointment and termination forms on-line
NIH eRA Commons Demo: allows you to assume various roles in order to practice using the various components of the Commons with sample proposals and grants provided by NIH
NIH eRA Commons Help: provides information about how to log on to the Commons and how to access various components
eRA Commons Roles: provides a table of all Commons roles and the privileges assigned to each

For more information or questions email researchadmin@ucsd.edu.