EMBL Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 76 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
19 roles · 76 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at EMBL.
EMBL
Medicinal Chemist
Mid Average Positive experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Presentation Behavioral
After you apply, there's an intro call that's about 75 minutes. You'll need to give a presentation that sums up your work history and professional background. Make sure to emphasize the parts of your experience or recent projects that really fit what we're looking for in this role.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- What prompted your move from industry to academia?
- Can you summarize your career and professional experience?
- Could you highlight relevant aspects of your work or recent projects for this position?
EMBL
Communications Trainee
Intern Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Presentation Technical screen
Interview formats
Presentation Behavioral Technical
So, there were two interviews. The first one was with three people from the team, including the lead, and I had to prepare a task beforehand. The second interview was with the lead of a totally different team.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- We're going to talk about the social media post you made based on the scientific paper.
- Can you walk me through why you chose specific wording and visuals for different platforms?
- Tell me more about your decision-making process for the content of the social media post.
EMBL
Research Officer
Entry Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Take home Panel Background check Offer
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral Presentation
After applying, I was shortlisted about 2-3 weeks later and had the interview a month after that. The selection process also involved a task where I had to prioritize a list of items, write an email to a collaborator requesting urgent information, and prepare the main points for a research grant report. The interview itself was lengthy and involved two back-to-back panel interviews, one with 5 people and another with 4. Honestly, it wasn't an experience I'd want to go through again. Some interviewers seemed disengaged, like asking a question and then drinking their coffee mid-sentence, making it hard to even see them on screen because their mug was in the way. Others were typing on their laptops, clearly not paying attention to my answers. A few even made negative comments about the Principal Investigator for this role (who was also on the interview panel), which put me off wanting the job. I also requested feedback after the interview, but even that was delivered poorly.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- What projects do you know are happening at EMBL?
- Could you share some information about yourself?
- What experience do you have with grant handling?
EMBL
Program Administrator
Mid Average Negative experience No offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite Panel Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
It took me over 2 months to go through the hiring process. There were 3 interviews and an on-site. First, there was a 30-minute pre-interview. Then, a 3.5-hour main panel interview that included a job-related task. After that, a 3-hour on-site visit. Finally, I had a 30-minute interview with a potential supervisor. The HR person told me I was the top candidate before the main panel interviews and the on-site visit, and that the other candidate was still in consideration just in case. They said I would hear back quickly, but I only got a generic email saying they went with someone else after I asked. I expected a more personal response and more transparency after more than 8 hours of interviews and being told I would get the job.
Confirmed questions1 question
- How would you handle prioritizing tasks when under stress?
EMBL Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from EMBL interview reports.
“What is the total count of structures within the PDB?”
Read reports →“In a best-case scenario, what resolution can be achieved using Cryo-EM?”
Read reports →“Can you estimate the number of water molecules present in this bottle?”
Read reports →“Can you tell me the count of coding and non-coding genes in mice, humans, and flies?”
Read reports →“Can you explain what kinases do and identify the protein family that does the opposite?”
Read report →“What resolution levels are necessary for conducting structure-based drug discovery?”
Read report →“Could you give an example of a physics principle that's used in biology?”
Read report →“Write code to implement an algorithm that groups numbers based on certain characteristics.”
Read report →“Could you provide an example of a regulatory mechanism involving both phosphorylation and dephosphorylation?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 76 EMBL interview reports.