17 Bioinformatics Scientist Interview Questions and Answers

The field of bioinformatics is constantly expanding as new technologies are developed to help researchers analyze the genomes of plants, animals, and humans. To keep up with these changes and develop new methods of data analysis, bioinformatics scientists are needed in both the public and private sectors.

If you’re interviewing for a bioinformatics scientist job, you can expect to be asked a range of questions about your experience with different software programs, data analysis methods, and research techniques. You’ll also need to be able to talk about your experience with different types of genomic data, such as DNA, RNA, and protein sequences.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve put together a list of sample questions and answers that you can use to develop your own responses.

Are you familiar with the programming languages commonly used in bioinformatics?

The interviewer may ask you this question to gauge your technical knowledge and experience with programming languages. If you have previous experience working in bioinformatics, name the programming language you used most often. If you don’t have any prior experience, consider naming a few of the more common programming languages that are relevant to bioinformatics.

Example: “I’ve worked primarily with Perl in my past role as a bioinformatics scientist. I also know some Python and Ruby, which are both commonly used in bioinformatics. I’m eager to learn new programming languages if they can help me do my job better.”

What are the steps you would take to design an experiment to identify a new gene?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach a task and what steps you take to complete it. Use examples from your past experience in which you had to design an experiment, including the steps you took to plan and execute it.

Example: “First, I would identify the problem that needs to be solved. In my last role, we were looking for new genes within our data sets. Next, I would create a hypothesis about what I think the results will be based on the information I have available. Then, I would collect all of the necessary data and analyze it using bioinformatics software. Finally, I would compare the results of my analysis with my hypothesis to see if there is a match.”

How do you manage large amounts of data?

This question can help interviewers understand your ability to work with large amounts of data and how you organize information. Use examples from previous experience to show that you have the skills needed to succeed in this role.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for organizing all of our company’s research data. I used a database management system to create tables where I could store different types of data. For example, I created one table for storing genetic sequences and another for storing protein sequences. This helped me keep track of important information while also allowing me to sort through it quickly when necessary.”

What is your experience with working with biological samples?

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with working in a lab environment. Your answer should include information about how you handled samples and any challenges you faced while working with them.

Example: “In my previous role, I worked primarily with blood samples from patients who were experiencing symptoms of cancer. My first step was to extract DNA from the sample so that I could run tests on it using bioinformatics software. Extracting DNA is always challenging because there are many factors that can affect the process, including the age of the patient and their overall health. However, I have developed several methods for extracting DNA from blood samples that have helped me achieve success.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to troubleshoot an issue with a program you created.

This question can help the interviewer gain insight into your problem-solving skills and ability to work independently. Use examples from previous positions where you had to troubleshoot a program or software that you created.

Example: “In my last position, I was tasked with creating a new database for our research team. After completing the project, I noticed there were some issues with the system. I worked with my supervisor to identify the issue and determine what caused it. We then fixed the issue by updating the coding on the website.”

If hired, what area of bioinformatics would you like to focus on during your first few years with our company?

This question helps employers determine if you have a clear idea of what the job entails and whether your goals align with their expectations. Your answer should include an example of how you would approach this area of bioinformatics, such as using data to create algorithms or analyzing genomic sequences.

Example: “I am passionate about developing new ways to analyze large amounts of data in order to make sense of it. In my last role, I worked on creating a program that could predict which patients were at risk for certain diseases based on their genetic makeup. This allowed doctors to better understand why some patients responded differently to treatment than others.”

What would you do if you were assigned to a project that required you to learn a new programming language?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you approach new challenges and whether you have any experience with learning a new language. Use examples from your past to explain what steps you would take to learn a new programming language, including which resources you use to do so.

Example: “In my previous role as a bioinformatics scientist, I was assigned to a project that required me to learn Python. At first, I found this challenging because I had never learned Python before. However, I used online tutorials and coding websites to practice Python on my own time. After several weeks of practicing Python, I felt confident enough to apply it to my work.”

How well do you communicate your ideas and findings to other scientists and non-scientists?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your communication skills and how well you can explain complex ideas in a way that others can understand. Use examples from past experiences where you had to clearly communicate technical information to colleagues or clients.

Example: “I have experience explaining my findings to both scientists and non-scientists, including doctors and patients. In my last role as a bioinformatics scientist at a pharmaceutical company, I worked with other scientists on the research team to create reports for our clients about new drug developments. We would present these findings to our clientele during quarterly meetings so they could understand the progress of their projects.”

Do you have experience presenting your work at conferences or publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals?

Employers may ask this question to learn more about your communication skills and how you share your work with others. If you have experience presenting or publishing, explain what motivated you to do so and the value of doing so in your career.

Example: “I’ve presented my research at several conferences over the last few years. I find it valuable because it allows me to connect with other professionals who are working on similar projects. It also gives me an opportunity to receive feedback from peers and experts in the field. In addition, I enjoy sharing my findings with a larger audience and learning from their questions and comments.”

When analyzing large amounts of data, what is your process for identifying patterns or anomalies?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach a task and what your thought process is. Your answer should include an example of how you used this method to identify patterns or anomalies in data.

Example: “When analyzing large amounts of data, I first look for any outliers that may be present. If there are no outliers, then I will start looking at the distribution of the data points. For instance, if I am looking at gene expression levels, I would want to see if they are normally distributed. If not, it could mean that something went wrong during the experiment. After checking for these two things, I will continue my analysis by looking at the relationships between different variables.”

We want to become a leader in the field of personalized medicine. What areas of research would you recommend we focus on?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the field and how you can contribute to an organization’s goals. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific areas that are currently being researched in bioinformatics and explain why they’re important.

Example: “I think personalized medicine is one of the most exciting fields within bioinformatics right now. I would recommend focusing on research that helps doctors use genomic data to predict which patients will respond best to certain treatments. This could help reduce the cost of healthcare by preventing unnecessary treatment for some patients.”

Describe your process for ensuring the security of sensitive data.

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to protect confidential information. Use examples from previous experience that show you understand the importance of security and how to implement it in your work.

Example: “I always use strong passwords for my accounts, including those I create for new projects. In my last role, I was working on a project involving patient data when I realized I forgot my password. I immediately reset it using a secondary email account so no one else could access the system while I changed it back. To ensure the security of the data, I also implemented two-factor authentication on all systems where I worked.”

What makes bioinformatics different from other branches of biology?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have a strong understanding of the field. Your answer should include a few key differences between bioinformatics and other branches of biology, such as molecular biology or genetics.

Example: “Bioinformatics is different from other branches of biology because it focuses on data analysis rather than experimentation. In my previous role, I primarily used bioinformatics software to analyze large amounts of genomic data. This allowed me to identify patterns in DNA sequences and compare them to existing databases to find similarities among species.”

Which areas of biology interest you the most?

This question can help the interviewer determine if your interests align with their company’s goals. It also helps them understand what you value in a job and how you might fit into their organization. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention an area of biology that is relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Example: “I have always been fascinated by genetics, which is why I chose to pursue a career in bioinformatics. In my current role as a research scientist, I’ve had the opportunity to work on several projects involving genetic sequencing. My favorite project was when we were able to identify a rare disease through our analysis.”

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the field of bioinformatics right now?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and how you approach challenges. Your answer can also show your knowledge of current issues in bioinformatics.

Example: “The biggest challenge facing the field of bioinformatics right now is that it’s still not well-known among many people, including those who could benefit from its applications. I think there are many ways we can work to change this, such as by educating more students about bioinformatics and encouraging them to pursue careers in the field.”

How often do you update your programming skills to stay current with the latest technology?

Employers want to know that you are committed to your career and will continue to learn new skills. They also want to make sure you have the time to keep up with any changes in technology. Show them that you are dedicated to learning by giving examples of how you’ve done it in the past.

Example: “I am always looking for ways to improve my programming skills. I recently took a course on Python, which is one of the most popular coding languages right now. It was challenging but rewarding to learn something new. I plan to take another class this summer so I can stay current with the latest technology.”

There is a bug in the code you wrote, but you don’t know how to fix it. What do you do?

This question is a test of your problem-solving skills. It’s important to show that you can use logic and critical thinking to solve problems, even if they are technical in nature.

Example: “I would first try to figure out what the bug was by looking at the code I wrote. If I still couldn’t find it, then I would ask my colleagues for help. They may be able to see something I didn’t or have an idea about how to fix it. If neither of those things work, then I would look online for solutions. There are many forums where people post questions and answers about bugs. I would search through them until I found one that matched mine. Then I would follow the instructions provided to fix it.”