Interview Help
Most interviews for undergraduate research positions are casual and straightforward, but you must be prepared to answer a number of different questions as well as ask some of your own.
Before sitting for your interview, we recommend you look through the lab’s website and familiarize yourself with some of their projects (understand at a basic level). We also recommend looking for one or two recently-published scientific articles from the lab (you can search for publications at this national database by using the researcher’s name) and read through the abstracts so you can have an idea of some recent discoveries or findings from the lab.
Be prompt (whether you meet in-person or over Zoom), courteous, enthusiastic, and inquisitive. Your interview behavior and personality count.
Questions you might be asked
Why do you want to do research with our group?
What do you hope to gain from conducting undergraduate research?
How many hours do you plan to commit to research per week and how many semesters (short-term vs long-term) do you plan to conduct research?
Do you have any prior experience in a research setting or reading through research papers?
What do you plan to do after you graduate college and how would you hope this research experience will help you achieve your goals?
How do you approach setbacks or overcome adversity?
How do you best organize your time and keep on task when faced with multiple responsibilities?
Can you describe a recent collaborative project or work you did that required active participation among a number of different individuals? How did you ensure success for yourself and the group as a whole?
Questions you can ask
What scientific question or research project do you envision I will be working on?
What are the expectations for an undergraduate researcher in your research group?
With whom would I directly work with on an everyday basis or approach for troubleshooting ideas?
Are there any relevant papers I should look over to get a better idea of the research question to be investigated or to better understand the techniques this position requires?
How often do you meet with undergraduate mentees and what characteristics do you believe are needed for success in the research setting?
Is there an opportunity to develop an independent research project or potentially contribute to a future research publication?
Want to learn how your peers got into research?