Thermo Fisher Scientific Scientist Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 153 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Scientist
Entry Difficult Neutral experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
Started with some screening questions like salary expectations and how I found the job, then a quick 10-15 min HR phone chat where they asked about my resume and company stuff. The main interview was an hour, split between two group leaders – one in molecular bio, the other in analytical chemistry. No one else was there. They were nice, but the questions were tough; I was surprised to get an offer. The offer came about a week later, though they said up to two weeks.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- Can you describe your process for setting and maintaining standards, both personally and in a team setting?
- Have you ever encountered and resolved a problem that others couldn't?
- Describe a situation where you received and handled negative feedback.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Scientist
Mid Average Negative experience No offer 6 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen Presentation Onsite Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
I applied online for an R&D Scientist position in SF Bay Area for Summer 2025. About 3 days after applying, I had a phone interview with a recruiter covering my past experience. Around 10 days later, I was emailed about a 30-minute online interview with the hiring manager, scheduled for a week after. This hiring manager interview, which happened about 10 days after the invite, focused on my past experience, their products, and how TF's tech stacks up against competitors. Three days after the HM interview, the recruiter let me know I was moving to the final round, which I could schedule for two weeks out. The final round, 17 days after scheduling, included a 45-minute presentation on my past work, followed by five 30-minute interviews with a manager, staff scientists, a director, and a VP. These interviews were a mix of behavioral and technical questions. Two weeks after the final round, I saw the job reposted and heard nothing. Three days after the repost, I got an email saying I wasn't moving forward. The recruiter said I'd get feedback from the hiring manager, but it never came. The process started fast but really slowed down. Recruiter communication was good until the end, then the lack of feedback was a bummer. Interviews were otherwise fine.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you explain your understanding of how TF's product/technology functions?
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Scientist
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
After getting past the screening call, there was one interview round. It was an online interview, lasting 1 hour in total, split into two 30-minute sections. The questions were pretty standard, not overly technical, but you should be ready for lots of "Tell me a time when..." questions about lab experience and equipment troubleshooting.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Can you tell me why you are interested in this role?
- Could you describe a situation where you had to troubleshoot lab equipment?
- Can you tell me about your lab experience?
Thermo Fisher Scientific Scientist Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Thermo Fisher Scientific interview reports.
“Once you've developed an antibody, how would you pinpoint the specific sequence related to your antigen of interest?”
Read reports →“Can you describe sample prep kits you've used for RNA isolation for qPCR?”
Read reports →“Can you explain the ALCOA principles and describe the different types of physical testing for solid dosage forms?”
Read reports →“Imagine a coin game on a round table with you and an opponent. The goal is to fill the table with a single layer of coins by placing them one by one. Would you choose to go first or second, and what's your reasoning?”
Read reports →“If you are carrying out some testing and something fails, what can you do with no optimization?”
Read report →“Can you explain Quality by Design (QbD) and how one would implement it?”
Read report →“Can you describe the qPCR workflow and the reason to choose Thermo Fisher Scientific?”
Read report →“Do you prefer to be the leader or suggest things to the group?”
Read report →“What points did you want to make regarding the scale-up of affinity chromatography resin in your presentation?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 153 Thermo Fisher Scientific interview reports.