What to say when interviewers ask about my research

[MisterFutu]

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I wrote on my application that I co-authored a paper. I did not physically write it up. I was mainly the work horse and I helped stimulate questions and discussions on it.

1. If the interviewers asks,
"Did you "write" the manuscript," do I tell them that I did not physically write it up, but I helped stimulate questions and discussions, analyzed relationships, and brought unique insights.

 

[snowflakes]

This sounds normal for a co-author. Papers are team efforts, and usually the first/last author play the biggest role in actually writing it up.

I don't think they'd ask exactly "did you write the manuscript"...more likely "What was your role in this project?" Just describe what work YOU did and how you contributed to the team. Did the paper use any data or analyses you generated?

1. If the interviewers asks,
"Did you "write" the manuscript," do I tell them that I did not physically write it up, but I helped stimulate questions and discussions, analyzed relationships, and brought unique insights.

Yes.

 

[Ochemphd]

They will know what you meant by "co-authored", don't worry.

 

[Catalystik]

I wrote on my application that I co-authored a paper. I did not physically write it up. I was mainly the work horse and I helped stimulate questions and discussions on it.

1. If the interviewers asks,
"Did you "write" the manuscript," do I tell them that I did not physically write it up, but I helped stimulate questions and discussions, analyzed relationships, and brought unique insights.

How many co-authors were there? What number are you on the list? Did you indicate this on the application when citing the article?

 

[MisterFutu]

How many co-authors were there? What number are you on the list? Did you indicate this on the application when citing the article?

There were about 14+, and I'm somewhere in the middle. I did not indicate this on the primary application.

 

[Catalystik]

There were about 14+, and I'm somewhere in the middle. I did not indicate this on the primary application.

I agree with @snowflakes then. If you didn't specify first (or maybe second) authorship, an assumption won't be made that you wrote the paper, so you won't be asked that question. Presumably, your role and contributions were included in the Research entry. The most likely question you'd be asked is, "Can you tell us about your research?" The intent would be that you provide an overview and can explain the research to those without that particular background. So be sure you have a grasp of the bigger picture than just your own role.

Did you provide enough of a citation so the paper could be found online?

 

[clippers50fan]

There were about 14+, and I'm somewhere in the middle. I did not indicate this on the primary application.

lol did you co-author a textbook? Jeez that's a lot.

 

[Ochemphd]

lol did you co-author a textbook? Jeez that's a lot.

Very common in any kind of a collaboration project.

 

[Catalystik]

lol did you co-author a textbook? Jeez that's a lot.

There can be way more than that on a journal article.

 

[deleted393595]

I wrote on my application that I co-authored a paper. I did not physically write it up. I was mainly the work horse and I helped stimulate questions and discussions on it.

1. If the interviewers asks,
"Did you "write" the manuscript," do I tell them that I did not physically write it up, but I helped stimulate questions and discussions, analyzed relationships, and brought unique insights.

More or less, but phrase it differently. You "explored various hypothesis", "brought unique insights" (clearly articulate them in a sentence or two), did the experimentation work.

And finish it off with a line about the overall skills it taught you.

 

[MisterFutu]

I agree with @snowflakes then. If you didn't specify first (or maybe second) authorship, an assumption won't be made that you wrote the paper, so you won't be asked that question. Presumably, your role and contributions were included in the Research entry. The most likely question you'd be asked is, "Can you tell us about your research?" The intent would be that you provide an overview and can explain the research to those without that particular background. So be sure you have a grasp of the bigger picture than just your own role.

Did you provide enough of a citation so the paper could be found online?

I only provided them with the title of the paper.

Thanks for all your help everyone! This was incredibly insightful!!