Preparing For a Research Interview

 

Approach Your Interview with Confidence

Securing a research interview is an important step, it means a supervisor sees potential in your application. The interview is your opportunity to demonstrate preparation, professionalism, and genuine interest in the lab’s work.

This guide draws on career preparation resources from across the University of Toronto including

Use this page to prepare strategically and approach your interview with clarity and confidence.

 

Before your interview:

  • Read at least one recent paper from the lab (abstract + figures are a good start)

  • Understand the main research question

  • Identify the techniques or models they use

  • Be ready to explain why their work interests you

You do not need to understand every technical detail. However, you should be able to clearly answer:

“Why are you interested in this lab?”

Also consider:

  • What are the lab’s goals?

  • Who would you report to?

  • What skills are they likely looking for in an undergraduate?

 

Research interviews often include a mix of question types:

Open-ended questions

  • Tell me about yourself.

  • Why are you interested in research?

  • Why this lab specifically?

Behavioural questions

(These assess how you’ve handled situations before.)

  • Tell me about a time you worked on a team.

  • Describe a challenge you faced in a course or lab.

  • Give an example of when you demonstrated initiative.

Technical or field-specific questions

  • Explain a method you’ve used.

  • Walk me through a project you completed.

  • What techniques are you comfortable with?

Review your resume before the interview — anything listed on it can become a question.

 

For behavioural questions, organize your responses clearly using the S.T.A.R. method:

  • S — Situation

  • T — Task

  • A — Action

  • R — Result

Instead of saying:

“I worked on a group project and it went well.”

Explain:

  • The context

  • Your role

  • What you specifically did

  • The outcome

Example: In my third-year physiology course, I worked on a four-person research project analyzing cardiovascular responses to exercise (Situation). I was responsible for organizing the dataset and running the statistical analysis (Task). I cleaned the data in Excel, identified outliers, and ran the comparative analysis between conditions (Action). As a result, we were able to identify a statistically significant difference between the two groups and received one of the top project grades in the class (Result).

 

Strong candidates ask thoughtful questions.

Consider asking:

  • Who would I be working most closely with?

  • What does mentorship look like in this lab?

  • What would a typical week look like for an undergraduate?

  • Are there opportunities to attend lab meetings?

  • What are your expectations in the first 3–6 months?

It is appropriate, and encouraged, to ask whether you can meet the graduate student or postdoctoral fellow you would be working with. You may also request a brief lab tour if possible. 

 

Before the interview:

  • Arrive 10–15 minutes early (or log in early if virtual)

  • Dress neat and professional (err slightly on the side of overdressed)

  • Bring a copy of your CV

  • Silence your phone

Professionalism includes:

  • Clear communication

  • Active listening

  • Respectful body language

  • Treating everyone, including lab members, with courtesy

You do not get a second chance at a first impression.

 

As the interview ends:

  • Thank the interviewer for their time

  • Ask about next steps in the hiring process

Within 24-48 hours:

  • Send a brief thank-you email

  • Reiterate your interest

  • Reference something specific you discussed

If you are not selected, it is appropriate to ask for feedback. Interviewing is a skill that improves with reflection and practice.