Ionis Pharmaceuticals Research Associate Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 6 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals
Research Associate
Mid Difficult Negative experience No offer 7 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite Panel Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
I went through the entire interview process for the RA II position needed by the department, and I made it to the final round. The on-site interview lasted 7 hours, and I met with 13 company members, mostly associate directors or directors. They went through every detail of my resume, asking both technical and behavioral questions. My background seemed to be a good fit for the role, and I answered all technical questions correctly. Lunch was provided, but team members continued asking questions during that time, with no breaks. I felt positive about the interview afterwards. About two to three weeks later, I inquired about a follow-up and received a brief email stating they had chosen another candidate.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- Can you tell me why you are interested in Ionis?
- Could you explain the working principle of HPLC?
- What is your understanding of how SEC functions?
Ionis Pharmaceuticals
Research Associate
Entry Average Positive experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite Group
Interview formats
Behavioral Group
The interview day was pretty long and felt like a repeat of the same things. I talked to different people one-on-one and also had a group session. Lunch was provided and there weren't many breaks. Everyone was really nice.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What makes you want to join Ionis?
Ionis Pharmaceuticals
Research Associate
Entry Difficult Neutral experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral
The interview process kicks off with a phone interview. If they think you're a good fit, you'll be invited for an in-person interview. This is an all-day event, lasting about 7 hours, where you'll meet with around 15 people, including most of the higher-ups and scientists. Lunch is provided, but they also conduct interviews during the meal, which can make eating tricky. The process feels pretty redundant because they ask a lot of the same questions. They really want to gauge your knowledge of the company and expect you to go into detail about everything on your resume. Make sure everything on your resume is something you actually know.
Confirmed questions7 questions
- Tell me about HPLC, including its technical aspects and how it functions.
- What different types of HPLC analyses have you performed?
- Can you share your past experiences working with HPLC?
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Research Associate Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Ionis Pharmaceuticals interview reports.
“Could you explain the working principle of HPLC?”
Read reports →“Tell me about HPLC, including its technical aspects and how it functions.”
Read reports →“What is your understanding of how SEC functions?”
Read reports →“Can you tell me why you are interested in Ionis?”
Read reports →“What different types of HPLC analyses have you performed?”
Read report →“What makes you want to join Ionis?”
Read report →“What is your motivation for wanting to join Ionis?”
Read report →“What motivated you to apply to Ionis?”
Read report →“Describe any challenges you've faced with HPLC and how you resolved them.”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 6 Ionis Pharmaceuticals interview reports.