NIH Research Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 17 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at NIH.
NIH
Research Assistant
Entry Average Positive experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The interview process involves interviewers asking about your knowledge, your experience, and how you'd contribute to the position. The interviewers are professional and friendly. You should be ready to summarize your experience and what you can bring to the role.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- What are your research interests?
- Can you tell me about your experience?
- How do you see yourself contributing to this role?
NIH
Research Fellow
Entry Average Neutral experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
After exchanging emails for over a month with the Principal Investigator, I had a phone interview. He really wanted to know about my personal qualities to see if I could stand up for myself, because he thought the intellectual debate atmosphere there might be a lot for some people. He sent me some journal articles beforehand and then asked me about what I understood from them, and also about my plans for my science career.
Confirmed questions5 questions
- What career path do you see for yourself at this stage of your life?
- What are your thoughts on the content of the provided journal articles?
- What are your long-term goals in the field of science?
NIH
Research Assistant
Intern Easy Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Other
I applied for an internship through my high school's program at the NIH. After getting accepted, I looked at the departments that offered internships and picked a few I was interested in. I then reached out to the heads of those departments to see if they would take an intern. I chose one department, and the lead researcher wanted to chat. It was like a mutual interview; he asked about my high school coursework, why I wanted to be in his lab, and my career aspirations. I also got to ask him about his lab to make sure it was a good fit for me. I told him I'd love to intern there, and he offered me the position right away.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- What makes you want to intern in this lab?
- Tell me about what you've studied in high school.
- What are your future career plans?
NIH Research Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from NIH interview reports.
“Were you ever in a situation where you fell off a truck?”
Read reports →“What are your thoughts on the content of the provided journal articles?”
Read reports →“What is your current understanding of the state-of-the-art methods?”
Read reports →“What are your long-term goals in the field of science?”
Read reports →“Can you share something about your childhood?”
Read report →“What are your scientific interests and what do you hope to gain?”
Read report →“What motivates your interest in working with the NIH?”
Read report →“Describe the most rewarding aspect of your master's program.”
Read report →“Could you describe your PhD project?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 17 NIH interview reports.