Notice2024-06970
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; NSF Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 2, 2024
Issuing agencies
National Science Foundation
Abstract
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to establish this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer than 3 years.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22750-22751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06970]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; NSF
Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN)
Program
AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF).
ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.
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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to
establish this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for
public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public
comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer
than 3 years.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by June 3, 2024
to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date will be
considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite
E7400, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0774776b6e6a7773684769746129606871"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9eedeef2f7f3eeeaf1def0edf8b0f9f1e8">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year (including federal holidays).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title of Collection: NSF INTERN Program Assessment.
OMB Number: 3145-0259.
Expiration Date of Approval: 09/30/2024.
Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Abstract: Fostering the growth of a globally competitive and
diverse research workforce and advancing the scientific and innovation
skills of the Nation is a strategic objective of the National Science
Foundation (NSF). The Nation's global competitiveness depends
critically on the readiness of the Nation's Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce and NSF seeks to continue
to invest in programs that directly advance this workforce.
As part of this effort, NSF invests in a number of graduate student
preparedness activities to ensure they are well-prepared for the 21st
century STEM Workforce and a supplemental funding opportunity is
available to provide support for graduate students through non-academic
research internships (INTERN Program) in any sector of the U.S.
economy.
The goal of the INTERN program is three-fold:
1. To provide graduate students with the opportunity to augment
their research assistantships with non-academic research internship
activities and training opportunities that will complement their
academic research training;
2. To allow graduate students to pursue activities aimed at
acquiring professional development experience that will enhance their
preparation for multiple career pathways after graduation; and
3. To encourage the participation of graduate students from groups
that have traditionally been underrepresented and underserved in the
STEM enterprise: women, persons with disabilities, African Americans/
Blacks, Hispanic Americans, American Indian, and Alaska Natives.
Since 2017, the NSF's INTERN program has expanded with supports
from other federal agency partners; as of March 2024, NSF has six (6)
INTERN funding opportunities providing participants with direct access
in exploring career pathways across various federal agencies and/or
government laboratories:
<bullet> Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students
(INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity (NSF 21-013)
<bullet> Research Internships for Graduate Students at Air Force
Research Laboratory (NSF-AFRL INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity
(NSF 21-029)
<bullet> Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students in
Geothermal Energy Supplemental Funding Opportunity (Geothermal INTERN)
(NSF 23-024)
<bullet> Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) Opportunity for Graduate
Students Supplemental Funding to Link Geosciences and Human Health
(GeoHealth INTERN) (NSF 23-112)
<bullet> Graduate Research Internships in Forensic Science and Criminal
Justice Contexts (NSF-NIJ INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity (NSF
23-150)
<bullet> Research Internships for Graduate Students at U.S. Army Combat
Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory and Ground
Vehicle Systems Center
[[Page 22751]]
(NSF-DEVCOM INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity (NSF 24-071)
In order to support the agency's mission and continue meeting the
program's goals, we are asking the graduate students who participated
in the INTERN program to report the following information on:
<bullet> Program Participant
[cir] Name
[cir] Academic institution
[cir] Type of research degree
[cir] Degree start and expected/conferred dates
[cir] Primary field of study
[cir] Demographic information
[ssquf] Sex
[ssquf] Race
[ssquf] Ethnicity
[ssquf] Disability status
[ssquf] Veteran status
<bullet> Logistics of the Internship
[cir] Start and end dates
[cir] Principal Investigator (supporting the internship)
[cir] Host organization
[ssquf] Location
[ssquf] Business sector
[cir] Host mentor
<bullet> Internship Experience
[cir] Primary and secondary work activities
[cir] Application of academic knowledge/skills learned
[cir] Hours worked
[cir] Job Training/skill development
[cir] Interaction with host mentor and/or other colleagues
(professional network)
[cir] Work environment
[cir] Company culture
[cir] Project scope
[cir] Overall satisfaction
<bullet> Industry Best Practices & Skills Development
[cir] Introducing industry best practices to academic environment
[cir] Forthcoming publications and/or IP activities resulting from
the internship
[cir] Experiential learning and professional preparation
<bullet> Post-graduate/Career Plans
[cir] General career direction after graduation
[cir] Helpfulness of the internship experience in making career
choices
[cir] Likelihood of working at the host organization or similar
organizations
<bullet> Impact of Covid-19 [only for respondents who postponed/delayed
their internship due to the pandemic]
[cir] Hardship/challenges experienced
[cir] Change(s) in career plan
<bullet> General comments/feedback about the Program
Since the agency will not be able to receive feedback from students
by way of annual reports, being able to collect this information will
help the managing Program Directors to assess whether the INTERN
program helps participants in terms of workforce development, career
decisions, and professional preparation, thereby ensuring the program
goals are met. In addition, these data will also allow NSF to evaluate
the intellectual merit of the program, its broader impact in developing
the STEM workforce and its potential to enhance the participation of
underrepresented and underserved STEM communities in such traineeships.
Finally, in compliance with the Evidence Act of 2019, information
collected will be used in satisfying congressional requests, responding
to queries from the public, informing the NSF's external Committees of
Visitors who serve to evaluate the foundation, working with the NSF's
Office of the Inspector General, and supporting the agency's
policymaking and internal evaluation and assessment needs.
Information collected in this survey will include the name of the
participants, their affiliated organizations, email addresses, and home
states. These personal identifiable information (PII) are collected
primarily for record tracking and organizing. In addition, questions
pertaining to participants' gender, race, ethnicity, disability status,
and veteran status will also be asked but those questions will be
marked as voluntary. These PII data will be accessed only by the
managing Program Directors, NSF senior management, and supporting staff
conducting analyses using the data as authorized by NSF. Any public
reporting of data will be in aggregate form, and any personal
identifiers will be removed.
Use of the Information: The information collected is primarily for
program assessment and agency internal evaluation.
Estimate burden on the public: Estimated 20 minutes per survey for
350 participants (per year) for a total of 7,000 hours per year.
Respondents: Graduate students who participate in the INTERN
program.
Estimated number of respondents: 350 per year.
Average Time per Reporting: 20 minutes.
Frequency: Each participant will only be asked to submit the survey
once.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on
respondents, including through the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents,
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other
forms of information technology.
Please submit one copy of your comments by only one method. All
submissions received must include the agency name and collection name
identified above for this information collection. Commenters are
strongly encouraged to transmit their comments electronically via
email. Comments, including any personal information provided become a
matter of public record. They will be summarized and/or included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information
collection request.
Dated: March 28, 2024.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2024-06970 Filed 4-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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