Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 28 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
9 roles · 28 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Research Technician
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I reached out to the Principal Investigator (PI) online before submitting my application. The interview was set up a bit less than a month after my initial email – they replied promptly and clearly. When I went for the interview, I met with the PI, three post-docs, and the lab manager. They asked me standard questions about my research interests and my future plans. I had done my homework on the lab's projects, but they didn't ask many specifics about them. Everyone I met was friendly and seemed really at ease with each other, and I felt pretty comfortable. The interview felt kind of casual, and I was quite relaxed.
Confirmed questions1 question
- How would you go about making a solution of a specific molarity?
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Laboratory Technician
Entry Average Neutral experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
There was a phone call interview and then an on-site interview. The whole thing took about a month. Everyone at the on-site was laid back and the researchers came from all over. They didn't really stress that the job was fast-paced or had less than 6 months of training. This led to my termination because I couldn't learn and perform fast enough, and they expected me to hit the ground running right after graduating college with little experience. It's a prestigious institution, so that's probably what to expect. I took the job because of the economy. Ask about training and pace!
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you tell me about your research experience?
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Research Assistant
Entry Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen
Interview formats
Technical Coding Behavioral
I applied online and heard back for a phone interview within 3 weeks. They started with some technical questions about my projects, data structures, and algorithms. Then we moved on to object-oriented programming concepts like polymorphism and inheritance, asking for examples and some simple algorithm problems. I think I got everything right, but they were looking for highly experienced programmers, probably more than I have, even for this role that isn't strictly a CS position.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What was your college GPA?
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Intern
Intern Average Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Presentation Recruiter call
Interview formats
Presentation Behavioral
The interview process involved preparing a few slides about my previous research to present to the lab PI. After the presentation, there was a discussion about relevant projects and my motivations for seeking an internship with the lab, as well as what I hoped to gain. They also asked about my future plans.
Confirmed questions7 questions
- What sparks your interest in conducting research on xx and yy?
- Let's discuss your previous projects.
- Could you present a few slides detailing your prior research to the lab PI?
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory interview reports.
“How would you go about making a solution of a specific molarity?”
Read reports →“Can you estimate the complexity of a sorting algorithm?”
Read reports →“Given this is a non-profit, the benefits are different and pay is lower than typical. Also, commuting might be difficult if you don't live on campus, are you aware?”
Read reports →“Could you elaborate on your project concerning the regulation and expression of segment polarity genes as modulated by the runt transcription factor?”
Read reports →“What was your favorite undergraduate class?”
Read report →“What was your college GPA?”
Read report →“Can you share your perspective on the current landscape of biology and identify what you believe is the most significant unresolved question within the field?”
Read report →“Tell me if you are familiar with our library services and website features.”
Read report →“What were the findings of your research?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 28 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory interview reports.