NIH IRTA Interview Attire?

[batch5000]

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Any tips on how to dress for a NIH post-bacc irta interview? I have one coming up in march and was thinking of playing it safe in a suit and tie. However, I wanted to see if any one had any other opinions or prior experience.

 

[diosa428]

The ones I've met (only like 2) have been in suits.

 

[beachblonde]

You can play it safe with a suit, but if you chose to go slightly more casual (no jacket) I'm sure it would be fine. By and large, NIH is a very casual place (aside from the clinical settings). I'm pretty sure I never saw my PI wear anything other than jeans, a college t-shirt, and sneakers. And the man was an MD, PhD.

So, a suit would be fine, but if you feel awkward in it, take off the jacket and it'll be okay, too.

 

[BlueElmo]

I would go in a full suit. Like others said, you can't go wrong with a suit.

 

[amph119]

Go in a suit, no questions asked.

 

[batch5000]

Thanks guys. I think the suit and tie sounds like the safe bet. Any non-attire related tips? I'm pretty nervous about the interview.

 

[GatorCHOMPions]

I personally did not wear a suit, but just khakis and a dress shirt. Many of my friends in the program did not even have a face to face interview, but rather it was over the phone! The NIH is a very casual place, as one of the posters said, but if you really want a suit, it's not going to hurt.

As for non-attire things, I would definitely read up on the PI's research page on the NIH website. Personally, I was asked some basic questions by the PI about his research. Know why you want to go into research in general, and the PI's lab specifically. It also wouldn't hurt to brush up on some lab techniues like PCR, cloning, genetics, etc. because I've heard some PI's like to "quiz" you a bit on the spot.

Maybe I'm scaring you too much, because my impression of the IRTA program is that if you are invited to an interview, you will most likely be accepted. A PI doesn't invite too many candidates to a personal interview like that for a post-bac position.

 

[batch5000]

Thanks gator. How many interviews did you attend and how long did it take for you to be accepted post-interview?