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Need advice- Research interview
Started by ronnicus
Dress professionally (ie no t- shirt, jeans, or sneakers), talk about why you're interested in working in a lab (specifically his), what your future plans are, and be able to talk about the work going on in the lab right now and how you see yourself fitting in. Also what you aim to get out of the experience. Read the 3 or so most recent papers to come out of the lab.
Shouldn't be a big deal. If he's interviewing you, he's probably interested in taking you on. Just don't act like a sociopath.
Shouldn't be a big deal. If he's interviewing you, he's probably interested in taking you on. Just don't act like a sociopath.
Dress professionally, act professional and follow their lead. Make sure that you prepare! Know what his current research is about, where it comes from, and where it is going. The worst thing you can do is look like a doe-eyed undergrad who just wants to get your hands on some beakers and pipettes and get published. Show interest in his work. You aren't expected to know everything, but you want to be competent enough that it won't seem like a liability or weak link. If you're ambitious, try to think of a couple of good questions for him.
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The Wedgedawg person already gave a pretty good answer, I'd run with that.
To add, after reading a few of their recent papers, it's a good idea to have a few questions to ask towards the end of the interview. First, try to look up the answers to the questions yourself. If you don't understand the answer, or a methodology despite some background work it's probably a good question that will spark a conversation. Don't worry about over doing this. Researchers love their subject, and really enjoy show and tell. As long as you come in interested you have a good chance. As corny as it sounds, enthusiasm goes a long way.
Don't act (or come of as looking) like a try-hard though - most PIs can see right through that, and they'll think you're only in it for the resume boost rather than actually learning things about research/how a lab works/the field you're in/working in a scientific environment/etc.
Could you explain a bit more about the "try-hard" part? I think I might've done that during one of my classes and it turned off a potential PI.
I don't really have a good way of describing this, but it's very easy to pick out someone like this when I see them.
Basically:
- Don't appear annoyingly over-eager
- Don't do things at the expense of other people or try to intentionally one-up them
- Don't ask questions you know the answer to just to try and impress people
- Be situationally aware and socially competent - basically know when things are and aren't appropriate
- Don't try and make yourself the center of attention when it isn't necessary or the focus should be on something/someone else
- Be courteous and respectful but not sycophantic
- Use common sense
You are making this alot harder than it supposed to be. All of the things WedgeDawg mentioned are from people trying too hard. The two biggest things to know going in are a) how to describe your research experience in succinct way while giving a clear takeaway message of what you gained and learned b) talk about your future plans and your goals and if asked how this lab ties into them.
What kind of "interview" is this?
Are you an undergrad just trying to volunteer in a lab? If this, it will be rather informal in most cases, just look and act competent.
If you are a college grad looking to get a research assistant job it'll be a little more formal and it'll be key to answer the two questions I mentioned above well and you should be able to highlight your strengths and skills.
Now the key thing here is YOU are the one who should be asking the key questions. What kind of time commitment are you looking for? Duration? What kind of projects have undergrads in the past gotten involved with? Who will I be working with; other students, post-docs, PhD's etc? Do undergrads get their own projects(and if so what kind of timeline is it ie do they have to start from the bottom and work their way up or do they get thrown in soon) and what is expected from them? Have undergrads gotten in papers in the past in your lab? These are the first things I thought of, you can come up with more.
Make sure this is a productive lab experience above all else. See if the PI is talking about just getting you "exposed" to research and being in a lab or talking about specific projects and things you can do. Some PI's simply think an undergrad physically being in a lab, watching things, washing dishes, cleaning things and other labor is good experience. Others are far more interested in what they contribute in terms of project work. Get a feel for the PI. If he gives off a bad vibe or seems unconcerned with your interests, note it. If you can meet other people in the lab, especially whoever is designated to work with you, note that as well. Don't just rush into a lab because it is the first one that agreed to take you.
