NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program Reporting Requirements
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
09/09/2026
table that charts list comparision
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2026
3,120
4,080
6,132
5,150
203,773
159,616
The National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Division of Graduate Education (DGE) in the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) administers the NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program. The NRT program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative models for STEM graduate education training. The NRT program seeks to ensure that graduate students in research-based master's and doctoral degree programs develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. NRT is dedicated to providing effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas through the use of a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs. The NRT program also focuses on broadening participation in STEM learning and careers, particularly among those individuals traditionally underrepresented and underemployed in the STEM workforce, including but not limited to, women, persons with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities.
Currently, NRT awardees provide NSF with information on their activities through periodic research performance progress reports (RPPR). The introduction of the annual and final reports based on the RPPR format has improved the submission of project information but does not address the fact that the NRT program requires (for program management and assessment/evaluative purposes) additional (and more finely grained) information beyond that requested/specified in the RPPR format. Without these data, NSF will be unable to document the implementation of NRT project activities and outcomes. NSF will also be unable to provide satisfactory responses to requests from OSTP and Congress that require demographic data that are not currently collected.
US Code:
42 USC 1862 et seq.
Name of Law: The National Science Foundation Acte of 1950
The increase in burden hours reflects an increase in the number of respondents to the survey. In the previous request, the program estimated ~120 awards per year. Respondent numbers have been increased to align with the current active NRT award volume of ~130 awards per year. The decrease in burden time is due to better accounting.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.