Tips for Postdoctoral Fellowship Interviews

Since my PhD I have applied for three different fellowships and interviewed for two. During these preparations, I have aggregated a series of questions and tips for the interview. Quite a few people in my family have also worked in recruiting and provided some more general questions. I thought I would bring these tips and suggestions together in this blog post. In particular, I have seen a lot of lists of questions but few detailed responses as to how to reply to them and what the question behind the question may be. Therefore, I hope this is helpful for those applying for postdoctoral fellowships. 

Know your audience

If you know who will be interviewing you, research them. Think about what motivates them and what sort of answers they might be satisfied with. Do they have an industry or academic background? What has been happening in their region/field recently? Before thinking about your answers it is important to know who you are trying to convince. 

Introductory statement

Often an interviewing panel will ask you to introduce your project over 5-10 mins. If slides are involved in this you will be asked prior to the interview to prepare these. It is important that you follow the narrative you presented in your proposal. I like to add some personal touches to this introductory statement about why I got interested in the topic. I wrote my introductory remarks out in full beforehand and then loosely followed them. Do expect to be interrupted during your introduction as this is often a way of seeing how you do under pressure. 

It is important that this introduction is focused on the impacts and not on methodology. If the interviewers have specific questions about your methodology they will ask them. I also like to show in the introduction that I understand how this research fits into the job's location and what questions people are asking in the location where the fellowship will be held. 

Some important overarching themes you want to communicate in the introduction and in the questions are that you are: 

• an independent researcher,
• at the cutting edge of international research,
• able to connect your expertise with problems or questions ordinary people are interested in.

It is also important to remember that the interviewers will be more interested in your approach to research than the intricacies of your methodology. 

Interview questions

Below are a series of questions I was asked, others were asked or I have scraped from the internet. These are not exhaustive and some are repetitive but hopefully, the comments for each question will help you prepare some responses.

• Given unlimited resources, what would you do?
• This question is trying to assess if you are an independent researcher. 
• Can you frame research questions and plan projects? 
• It also assesses where you want to go in the future and what your priorities are.
• This is an opportunity to talk about translating your research from the lab to the industry or the community.
• Tell us about yourself
• This is fairly open-ended but is wanting you to go deeper than simply your research project. 
• This is a helpful question to explain how you are relatable and that you are more than just your work. 
• I split this question into academic, extracurricular and personal. The academic communities I am involved in are (physics, chemistry, combustion, materials etc). Outside of work I like to (list some hobbies). I would describe myself as a (personal adjectives).
• What would you say are your research expertises?
• Depending on your audience I would go for overarching research themes and not a list of methodology or techniques you have mastered, e.g. analytical chemistry for pollution detection. 
• What hobbies do you have?
• This question is to help them assess whether you have a life outside of the lab/office. 
• What inspired you to get into research?
• I like to focus my answer on big picture issues here. What motivated me to get into research?
• I also would discuss who inspired me.
• This question is very useful for including a small story or anecdote.
• What would you bring to the programme?
• Concrete ideas are good here and demonstrating some things you have previously implemented. 
• Include things like mentoring, workshops, public outreach.
• What is the most pressing problem that you want to address?
• This is a question about what issue or problem is motivating you. 
• Make sure this relates directly to your research project and how your work will help to bring us close to solving the problem. 
• Talk about a time when something goes wrong with research. How did you overcome it and what you learned about yourself.
• Good opportunity for a story or anecdote.
• Perhaps focus it on the work and how you overcame a particularly challenging experiment. 
• I prefer to focus on people. Academy is full of challenging people to work with. How did you manage the relationship? How did you support others? How did you reach out for help from specific people in your department/university? This answer is easier for discussing what you learnt about yourself than a research based question.
• Why do you want this position? 
• Opportunity to show them you understand what the fellowship is about and the parts of the fellowship you really like. Check out annual reports and the people they have funded to see what they like to promote. Their social media accounts are also helpful for this.
• Is perseverance or talent important?
• These sorts of silly questions are often used where you have to choose between two things that are both important. 
• I chose to answer the question according to the most important thing for me which is vision which will provide perseverance. For talent I mentioned that I think of talent in a group setting. In good collaborative work many people with different talents come together to get a project done. This answer highlighted broad thinking and team thinking. But it is quite personal so I would write something that is true to your view of this question.
• Could you tell us about how outreach is important for you?
• This must be answered in the affirmative and gives you an opportunity to explain the outreach you have already been involved in.
• What are your breakthroughs and what impact have they had?
• I like to mention them briefly. My first breakthrough was ... and this changed how the field of ... thinks about the problem. 
• You might want to add how these breakthroughs will make further impact through the project you are proposing. 
• What do you see as a weakness of yours? 
• There are some common answers to this question that you want to avoid if you can. e.g. I overwork, I come up with too many ideas etc. 
• This is an opportunity for you to get personal about an aspect of your research you or others have noticed needs improving.
• Talk about what steps you are taking to strengthen this part of you and perhaps how this programme will help. 
• What is your greatest strength?
• This is not an opportunity to talk about all of the great research you have done or all of the ideas you have had. 
• Focus it on soft skills and provide evidence for your statements. I am a team player and this can be seen in how I worked in my last group when ...
• Can you explain some of the novel aspects of your project?
• Good to talk about the critical difference between others in the field and what you are proposing. 
• What is the unique spin you are bringing to the problem/question that will hopefully lead to a breakthrough?
• What would you do if you don’t get this application?
• I mentioned grants I have applied for. Avoid talking about other fellowships as they might think you're not serious about this one. 
• What are some risks in your project and how will you overcome them?
• This is an opportunity to talk generally and nonspecifically about barriers and how you overcame them. 
• COVID-19 is a good thing to talk about here. Risks of not being able to collaborate as widely and how you can mitigate these risks by engaging in online conferences. 
• How did your research proposal come about?
• Important you demonstrate your independence and how you made this happen. 
• Discuss the world-class group(s) you will be working with and why this is the best place to do this work.
• Why is it important to do this research now?
• This is a big picture question. Discuss the big question/problem and how this research addresses this. Also make it regional - why is this important for the place the fellowship will be undertaken?
• Who else is currently working in this field?
• This is a question aimed at working out how well embedded you are in academic circles. Who have you met and collaborated with? Have you attended conferences/workshops where these groups were presenting? What are they doing that is similar and what are you doing differently?
• Will you be using any new techniques?
• This could be a trick question as new techniques can be problematic and can delay a project. The easiest projects are those that bring two well-known approaches from two different fields together for the first time. 
• I like to talk about the new aspects or new ways we will be using the equipment but also say that the group I am going into is world leading in the techniques I want to use. 
• How will you measure success during the course of your fellowship?
• I would not say papers; this is a question about output.
• I would talk about outputs from the projects and the impacts of those outputs. 
• What impact might this research have on your field?
• This is simple question but might be nice to talk about problems/questions that cannot be solved/answered that will be possible after this project. 
• What sort of socio-economic impact will your projects have?
• I would start with the facts around how much money you think this could save/generate. 
• You want to head quickly into the positive social benefits and how you understand what it will mean for the people where the fellowship is based.
• How would you describe your proposed research to a non-scientist?
• This needs to be a 1-2 minute elevator pitch. You need some sort of hook to generate interest and explore what your research does in the context of a non-scientist. 
• How will you communicate your research to a broader audience?
• This is not papers. Think press releases, social media, trips to schools, blog posts, visiting companies, conferences, workshops. 
• Can you give us evidence that you are developing research independence?
• It is helpful to show some sort of collaboration that you independently set up aside from your PhD supervisor. 
• Grants you have submitted with people outside of your research group. 
• Organising workshops or talks can show independence also. 
• Tell us about your best paper and the impact it has had. 
• Pick a paper that fits with the project you are pitching.
• Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? How will this fellowship help you achieve this?
• Try to picture yourself either in academia or industry and what success would look like. For example, running a research group that has a diverse group of people from many different backgrounds to solve pressing problems using your expertise. 
• This question also allows you to show them how this fellowship is the next step for you getting embedded into the system where the fellowship is based. 
• Why should you be awarded this fellowship?
• Something about how the project is world-leading and is based on work that has already generated world class insights and publications.
• I mentioned how the fellowship community would be a good fit for my values and how I see myself helping and contributing to PhD students' development.
• Please summarise your academic achievements and your personal contribution
• This question is again assessing your independence as a researcher and how well you can attribute collaborators' contributions. 
• You are not expected to have done all of the work but to have some academic ownership over the process and be able to share the ownership with collaborators. 
• Can you describe your personal practical experience of research?
• They are looking for broad interests and independence. How have each of these experiences enhanced each other?
• Can you share with us some aspect of research that you have read recently that excited you, outside of your immediate area of interest?
• This question is assessing your ability to generate ideas outside of your immediate field. This should read like the outlook section of a paper. 
• Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved?
• They are looking for maturity and a bit of an anecdote also. 
• I would focus on a story that you can anonymise. This shows maturity that you think about privacy. 
• I would try not to discuss your PhD supervisor unless they have provided you with a bad reference that you need to address. 
• They are interested more in how you conducted yourself as opposed to who was right or wrong in the situation. 
• What do you like or dislike about your current research location?
• This could be a trick question as you do not want them to think you are quick to complain. 
• I focused on what I really liked and some limitations at my current location that I need to overcome and that is why I am wanting this fellowship to develop a new skill.
• How are you working under pressure?
• Important to talk about how you perform well but also know your limits. Setting work-life boundaries shows them that you are mature. 
• Might also be helpful to mention that you are happy talking to others if you are struggling with a deadline and that you ask for help. 
• Describe your dream job?
• My response was "Leading a research organisation with world class researchers and enthusiastic students with new ideas and energy to solve pressing problems."
• Describe your management style?
• My response was "Collaborative, heavy on planning and based on boundaries and respect."
• Who has been a role model for you?
• Good opportunity for an anecdote. 
• I would go with a personal story, ideally work related and not a long-dead academic.
• What have you learnt from mistakes on the job?
• I like to talk about perseverance as research is hard. Things don't work the first time and you have to keep pushing ahead. 
• What types of people do you find it difficult to get on with?
• I said people that abuse others or are manipulative. However, I said I have learnt ways of dealing with such people. 
• What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
• Perhaps talk about something outside of your area of expertise, an online course etc.
• What has been your biggest professional disappointment?
• Perhaps an interpersonal issue.
• What are the most difficult decisions to make?
• What to do next!
• How do you deal with conflict?
• Basic conflict resolution techniques from management are quite useful here. Being proactive but respectful.
• What do you do for fun?
• Talk about your hobbies. 
• What has shaped you? 
• I would focus on academic mentors.
• What is the most controversial thing that you have ever done?
• Easy answer to this is disagree with an agreed norm in a field. 
• Why do you want to live in (location of fellowship)?
• Best place in the world to do this project. Then something nice about the place that you are looking forward to.
• How is your work distinct from your supervisor’s/principal investigator’s? How intellectually independent are you?
• Very good to show clearly the different direction you are taking. You can still work with your supevisor on some projects but there needs to be some independence shown. 
• What has been your role so far in developing research ideas and carrying them forward?
• Demonstrate independence.
• What are your personal qualities?
• It can be helpful here to say "I have heard people say that I am ..." This framing helps to make answering this question less awkward.
• What papers do you have coming through in the next year?
• It might be helpful to highlight some papers that relate directly with the project. 
• How will this job help you achieve your long term career plans?
• You can be quite practical about what the fellowship would mean for career progression.
• What are the big issues in your research area?
• Best to highlight something you are planning to address in your proposal.
• How does your work align with contemporary trends or funding priorities?
• Good to look nationally and regionally here. 
• Get some facts around investment in your field.
• How would you bridge the gap from your research to research users?
• Commericalisation or policy channels you will use. Community engagement etc.
• The university is keen to serve the wider community and economy. Does your planned research have any potential in these areas?
• What does your research mean for the person on the street. 
• How do we deal with research in a COVID-19 world?
• I would list out some risks, specific to your research area if possible, and how you plan to mitigate them.
• How do you feel about translating your research into innovation or spin-outs? Can you give an example of when you have been enterprising?
• Might be nice here to talk about the pros and cons of commericalising a particular finding. 
• How do you balance your time?  If several challenges came up at the same time (grant deadline, pastoral care for a student, teaching commitments) how would you prioritise?
• Communicating with your team must be part of the answer.
• What has been the most productive period in your research career and why?
• Might be good to highlight a time after your PhD, if possible, to show you are independent.
• Why do you think you are ready for this position?
• Important to show out of PhD experience here and supervising experience. 
• If you get this position how will you run your research project?
• This is similar to the "How will you manage people" question but also how will you collaborate with others to get the project done. 
• How would you convince a funding body that they should fund your research rather than one of the other hundreds of proposals they receive?
• Maybe pick out three core aspects to the proposal that you think are critical to understand/answer.
• In one sentence, what is the most important question you want to address?
• Good one to write down.
• How does the work you propose follow on from what you are already doing?
• Good to structure this according to your expertise and then how that feeds into your proposed work. 
• What will you do if your hypothesis is proved wrong?  Can you see any of your research proposal failing?
• It is important that you structure the project so that it can be done in parallel so no part depends too strongly on another. 
• You could also talk about the importance of proving something wrong. Negative results are very important in the sciences in particular. 
• Have you already done anything to test the feasibility of your project?
• Nice to talk about work you have already done with the group you are planning on working with.
• What resources will you need?
• You will have to talk about the resources the group/uni will be providing to make it happen.
• Have you supervised doctoral candidates, and how did you find this experience? How did you manage them?
• Important question and you need to explain the care and importance you placed on mentoring.
• How would you deal with a weak researcher?
• I answered "Kindly but with clear direction."
• How would you fit with the existing activities in the department?  Who do would you expect to collaborate with in the institution?  Why do you want to collaborate with them?
• Explain why this is the best place in the world to do this project. 
• Why should we fund you over the other candidates?
• I said " I cannot speak for other projects but you should fund this project because..." then list three main impacts that will make it worth it.
• How does your research collaborate with industry?
• An example here is nice.
• What other research directions do you want to explore?
• Demonstrate your wide breadth of interest/knowledge.
• What is the most important piece of work in your field?
• Don't say your own work. Try something historical that links with your recent work and the project at hand. 
• What do you think interdisciplinarity is?
• My anser was "Respecting and integrating insights from other fields."
• Do you have any questions?
• This is a really important question to answer as it shows them how much you have thought about the fellowship. 
• One question I asked was "I have seen there is a big emphasis on mentoring, could you please give me an example of a fellowship holder that has done this really well?"
• I also asked how easy it is to collaborate between departments and universities in the area.

Preparing responses

For my preparation I had a document where I wrote out in full my introductory remarks and then briefly answered the questions above. 

The responses to the questions should only be 1-5 sentences long and bullet pointed. They should not be scripted word for word answers but just some ideas. During the interview I do not think I used the exact words in these responses but I had lots of ideas of what to say. 

Practice with people

It is important that you choose some people that match the interview committee - academics or non-academics. Give them some questions so they know what sort of questions to ask. Invite them beforehand to interupt you during a response so you get used to having to jump around during a response. Ask them for any tips afterward and write them down. Also see if you can talk with people at your university's research office if they can help you.

How much time should I spend?

I spent a few days preparing just before the interview so it was all fresh in my mind. I like to think that the interview is only there to pick up any red flags with a person's personality and if you get through to the interview your research has already been picked and is of high quality. In the end, however, a lot more goes into the decision than simply your interview and you might not get the fellowship for many reasons and most will not be because of your interviewing skill or application. You could be a great candidate for a particular fellowship but others may suit it better for various reasons that are impossible to know. This doesn't mean your research or interviewing skills are bad! When I was not successful I found the process of preparing responses and framing my research very helpful and it improved my later applications. So don't worry, nothing is wasted. All the best for your applications!