To match industry standards in digital security, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is transitioning to use two-factor authentication to log in to eRA Commons. The NIH announced these transition plans in NOT-21-040 and NOT-OD-21-172.
Beginning September 15, 2021, those with Scientific roles, including Principal Investigators, will transition to logging in through the Login.gov process. The sign-up and linking of the accounts is a brief 3-step process. All Users, including Principal Investigators, should follow this illustrated guide for Login.gov to sign up and link accounts.
The following roles are considered Scientific in eRA Commons. See the Commons User Guide for more details.
- Scientific roles for research: Principal Investigator (PD/PI), Trainee, Sponsor, Assistant (ASST)
- Scientific roles for reporting: Undergraduate, Graduate Student, Postdoc, Scientist, Project Personnel
NIH’s current transition plan for all eRA Commons Account Types.
| Account type(s) | Timetable for a move to two-factor authentication at Login.gov |
| Scientific* | Suggested: Transition now to Login.gov
Required: no later than 45 days after submission of an application or Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR). Enforced: for all applications and RPPR’s submitted on or after September 15
|
| Scientific +
Administrative |
Transition the scientific account now or no later than 45 days after submission of an application or RPPR.
Do not transition your administrative account. If you’ve already done this, contact the eRA Service Desk. |
| Administrative
(one account) |
Suggest: Transition now to Login.gov
Required: Transition in early 2022 as required by NIH |
| Multiple
Administrative |
Wait to transition your eRA administrative accounts |
| Reviewers | Transition is ongoing and is required as soon as the reviewer is enabled for the review meeting |
