University of California Berkeley Researcher Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 16 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at University of California Berkeley.
University of California Berkeley
Postdoctoral Researcher
Mid Average Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Presentation Panel Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
Applied for three roles and surprisingly got interviews from all three. The first lab had a brief ~15 min online chat with the PI about research, expectations, etc. The second lab had a more structured process: ~10 questions and a list of 5 interviewers (grad students, postdoc, PI) were sent beforehand. This was followed by a 35-minute interview, then a 1-hour 1-on-1 presentation and discussion with the PI. The third lab had a similar initial interview to the second, and I was hired there.
Confirmed questions6 questions
- Can you tell me about your background?
- What are your thoughts on technical aspects?
- What are your expectations?
University of California Berkeley
Graduate Student Researcher
Entry Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Presentation
Interview formats
Technical Presentation
You apply to the school and the department you want to study in, and you try to make your application as competitive as possible. In our department, you pick a few PIs you'd like to work with, and they get a copy of your application if you pass some initial cut. Then, they decide if they want to have you come in for an informal interview. This was my experience.
Confirmed questions1 question
- How would you contribute to solving the problem we are currently working on?
University of California Berkeley
Postdoctoral Researcher
Mid Easy Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Presentation Onsite
Interview formats
Presentation Behavioral
I saw an ad on NatureJobs and applied. About a week later, I was contacted and asked to come in for a presentation. The presentation and the interviews afterward lasted for about 6 hours, though this can change a lot from lab to lab. After talking with everyone else in the lab, I met with the PI and was offered a position immediately. For me, it was a really simple process.
Confirmed questions0 questions
No confirmed questions were included in this interview report.
University of California Berkeley Researcher Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from University of California Berkeley interview reports.
“Regarding state-of-the-art field effect transistors, what's the usual voltage applied?”
Read reports →“How would you go about finding financial support for your research endeavors?”
Read reports →“What is your GPA from your undergraduate program?”
Read reports →“What kind of research are you interested in pursuing?”
Read reports →“Can you tell me about one of the papers you've authored?”
Read report →“Do you have any inquiries regarding the postdoctoral position?”
Read report →“What about your publications?”
Read report →“What are your plans after joining the lab?”
Read report →“What about our research catches your eye and why?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 16 University of California Berkeley interview reports.