Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Training Tomorrow's Scientists: Linking Minorities and Mentors Through the Web

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Training Tomorrow's

Scientists: Linking Minorities and Mentors Through the Web

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment

on proposed data collection projects, the Office of Behavioral and

Social Sciences Research, Office of the Director, National Institutes

of Health (NIH) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to

be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review

and approval.

Proposed Collection

Title: Training Tomorrow's Scientists: Linking Minorities and

Mentors through the Web. Type of Information Collection Request: NEW.

Need and Use of Information Collection: This activity will increase the

visibility of the National Institutes of Health's Research Supplements

for Underrepresented Minorities program. The primary objective is to

ensure in the coming decades a concentration of minority researchers

who will address behavioral and social factors important in improving

the public health and eliminating racial disparities. The Office will

design a web site that will link promising minorities at the high

school through junior faculty levels with senior NIH-funded researchers

who are willing to mentor. The activity is consistent with the

Congressional mandate for the Office to enhance behavioral and social

science training opportunities at NIH, especially for minorities.

Frequency of Response: On occasion. Affected Pubic:

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Individuals or households; State, Local or Tribal Government. Type of

Respondents: Students (high school, college, graduate school),

postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and NIH researchers. The annual

reporting burden is as follows: Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,000;

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1; Average Burden Hours

Per Response: .49; and Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested:

1960. The annualized cost to respondents is estimated at: 0. There are

no Capital Costs to report. There are No Operating or Maintenance Costs

to report.

Request for Comments

Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected

agencies are invited on one or more of the following points: (1)

Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the

proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether the

information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the

agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of

information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions

used; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on those who are to respond, including the

use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques or other forms of information

technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: To request more information on the proposed

project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and

instruments, contact Dr. Paula Skedsvold, Science Policy Officer,

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, Office of the

Director, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building

31, Room B1C32, Bethesda, MD 20892, or call non-toll-free number (301)

435-6780 or E-mail your request, including your address to:

[email protected].

COMMENTS DUE DATE: Comments regarding this information collection are

best assured of having their full effect if received on or before July

23, 1999.

Dated: May 18, 1999.

Virginia Cain,

Special Assistant to the Director, Office of Behavioral and Social

Sciences Research, Office of the Director, National Institutes of

Health.

[FR Doc. 99-13046 Filed 5-21-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140-01-M