Research Assistant Interview Questions in United States
When looking for a research assistant position, you can expect to be interviewed about your education in the field of research you are applying to, your clerical skills, and your ability to work independently under tight time constraints. The interview and job expectations as a research assistant will depend largely on the scientific field you intend to research, so be sure to look into the expectations of the professors or other senior level researchers you may end up working under.
Top Research Assistant Interview Questions & How to Answer
Here are three top research assistant interview questions and how to answer them:
Question #1: Tell us about your research interests.
How to answer: The interviewer may want to envision how you would fit into their current projects. Speak about your field of study. You can use this question to highlight your passion for the field. It might also benefit you to mention that you are open to working on any project.
Question #2: Describe your computer experience.
How to answer: Computer skills are vital in research. Be sure to tailor your response to the job responsibilities. Describe how you have used computers for research in the past. You might mention tasks like searching databases or performing analysis.
Question #3: Do you have experience seeking funding?
How to answer: Funding is an essential step in many research projects. Highlight any past experience you have, and mention specific methods you have used, like applying for grants or making presentations requesting funding. If you don't have experience, highlight your eagerness and ability to learn.
Some of the tasks you'll be required to perform are routine and monotonous. How will you deal with such routine tasks?
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Good answer!
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Mastering routine work allows me to complete tasks effectively in a high throughput manner. Hopefully, this will afford me with free time to learn and master more challenging techniques and better assist the team. Less
The professor quizzed me on several technical aspects of a journal paper I was a co-author of. Most of them were manageable. He asked me what exactly my contribution was in that paper and why I was not first author on it.
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I replied that the project was industry-funded and because I was a student at the time the industry I was working for did not share enough proprietary details with me like they did with my advisor who was the first author on the paper. As a result it was easier and much faster for my advisor to write the paper up and add me on as a second author despite the fact that I did all the experimental work that was featured in it. The rest of the interview was excellent and the Professor collected my references and then e-mailed them separately for recommendations. In ~4 weeks time I was hired. Less
What research area are you interested in?
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Don't be so specific that you could only see yourself working for one prof. Read up on the faculty, pick out several you like and then widen your answer to potentially include any of them. Read up on these subjects beforehand so you can ask some intelligent questions about the research projects and see if it is what you really want. Be sure to talk with the profs at recruitment weekend! Less
Tell me about yourself
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I will do my assigned work with full dignity
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My name is Stephanie. I have 30 years of experience working with seniors and special needs people. I’m caring and maternal and look after others needs first. I am punctual and reliable. Less
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My name sandeep Bains I live north side edmonton I am health care aid and I have 2 years India hospital work experience Less
Are there any areas listed in the job description that you are less skilled at or inexperienced in?
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Standard stuff with judgemental.ones thrown in i.e will you pay for someone to watch your kids while you work from home ? Will you be distracted all day? Etc
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Q. technical questions related to evaluation methods Q. behavioral question related to conflict in a group
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Bachelor (Honours)
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Bachelor (Honours)
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Whether it is a city wide survey? Sure, and is going to be a property census on predetermined assets within geographic boundary. Less
Give brief summary of your research interests.
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I wrote a 3 pages summary describing different topics.
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I am looking for drought resistant genotypes varieties of rice and wheat crops which could grow normally without reducing grain yield. I would like to present some pictures of my work at IRRI.selection of suitable rice genotypes is critical in growing rice successfully with less water. However, information on the response of different genotypes to such water saving technologies is still lacking. Thus, the field experiment with the objective to evaluate the grain yield and yield components water productivity performances grown under AWD20, AWD40 and under CF irrigation schemes. Less
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Water management technology: I am also lookibg for different methods of water application in rice and wheat crop. It is necessary to select appropriate methods of irrigation for these two crops which maintain grain yield without increasing cost of cultivation. Therefore, i am trying to develop different scheme to irrigate crops. Less