17 Biologist Interview Questions and Answers

As one of the most versatile and fast-growing sciences, biology is the study of life. Biologists may work in a variety of settings, such as in research and development for pharmaceutical or agricultural companies, in environmental consulting, or in education.

If you’re interviewing for a biology position, you can expect to answer questions about your experience in the field, your research methods, and your knowledge of the scientific process. You may also be asked about specific areas of biology that you’re interested in or knowledgeable about.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve put together a list of common biology interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working with animals?

This question can help interviewers determine if you have experience working with animals. If you do, they may ask more questions about your experiences to see how comfortable you are handling them and what kind of training or education you’ve had in this area. If you don’t have any experience working with animals, you can talk about your interest in doing so and the steps you would take to gain that experience.

Example: “I am very comfortable working with animals. In my last position, I was responsible for feeding and cleaning up after a variety of different types of animals. I also helped monitor their health and behavior. I’m always looking for ways to improve my skills when it comes to working with animals, so I took an online course on animal care and management.”

What are some of the most important skills for a biologist?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. Use your answer to highlight some of the most important skills for a biologist and explain why they are so important.

Example: “The two most important skills for a biologist are communication and problem-solving. As a biologist, I am often working with other scientists on projects. These collaborations require me to be able to communicate my ideas clearly and effectively. In addition, solving problems is essential because it helps me understand how to approach new situations. This skill has helped me develop solutions to many challenges that I’ve faced during my career.”

How do you feel about working with other scientists in a team setting?

Working in a team setting is common for biologists. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable working with others and that you can collaborate effectively. In your answer, explain how you feel about teamwork and collaboration. Share an example of a time when you worked well with others on a project or task.

Example: “I enjoy collaborating with other scientists because it allows us all to learn from each other’s experiences. I’ve found that my colleagues often have different perspectives than me, which helps me think through problems differently. At my last job, I was tasked with finding ways to reduce the amount of water we used at our facility. My colleague had experience using sensors to monitor water usage, so she helped me implement those sensors into our system.”

What is your experience with lab work?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your experience level and how you might fit in with their team. If you have lab work experience, share what kind of projects you worked on and what skills you developed. If you don’t have any lab work experience, you can talk about other science-related work or research that you’ve done.

Example: “In my last position as a biologist, I was responsible for collecting samples from different locations to test for certain elements. This required me to use specialized equipment like microscopes and testing kits. I also had to analyze data and write reports based on my findings. Through this process, I learned how to communicate clearly and concisely while still being thorough.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to use your critical thinking skills in the lab.

This question can help the interviewer determine how you apply your critical thinking skills to solve problems and make decisions. Use examples from your previous experience that highlight your ability to analyze information, evaluate data and use logic to come up with solutions.

Example: “In my last position as a biologist, I was tasked with testing samples of water for contaminants. One day, I noticed that one of our test results showed higher levels of lead than normal. This could have been an issue if we hadn’t used proper safety precautions when handling the contaminated water. However, I knew that it was important to figure out why there were high levels of lead in the water so we could take steps to prevent this from happening again.

I started by looking at all of the equipment we had used during the testing process. After inspecting each piece of equipment thoroughly, I realized that one of the machines had a small crack in its container. The lead particles must have gotten into the machine through the crack, which is why they ended up in the water sample.”

If hired, what area of biology would you like to focus on?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your interests and goals. It also helps them understand what you’re looking for in a job. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention an area that aligns with the job description or one that you feel passionate about.

Example: “I would love to work on conservation efforts. I’ve always been interested in helping endangered species and preserving natural habitats. If possible, I’d like to find a position where I could do research on how we can protect wildlife and preserve our planet.”

What would you do if you noticed an error in another biologist’s work?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle mistakes and errors in your work. It can also show them how you collaborate with others. In your answer, try to explain what steps you would take to correct the error while still showing respect for the other biologist’s work.

Example: “If I noticed an error in another biologist’s work, I would first ask if they had already discovered it themselves. If not, I would let them know about the mistake and offer to fix it myself or assist them in fixing it. I would make sure that my corrections were clearly labeled so that there was no confusion as to who made which changes.”

How well do you communicate your findings in writing?

As a biologist, you may be required to write reports and other documents that communicate your findings. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the necessary writing skills for the job. In your answer, share two or three examples of how you’ve written technical documents in the past. Explain what steps you took to ensure they were easy to understand.

Example: “I am very comfortable with writing scientific papers and reports. I always proofread my work before submitting it to make sure there are no grammatical errors. When writing a report, I also include an executive summary at the beginning so anyone can quickly read through it and get the main points. This helps others who aren’t as familiar with biology understand my research.”

Do you have experience working with large data sets?

Large data sets are a common part of many biology projects. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience with large data sets and how you handled them in the past. If you do not have experience working with large data sets, consider describing your ability to work with complex data sets or other types of large datasets.

Example: “In my previous role as a biologist, I worked on several projects that required me to analyze large amounts of data. For example, one project involved analyzing thousands of samples from different locations to determine which species were most prevalent in each area. In another project, we analyzed hundreds of hours of video footage to identify specific animal behaviors. These two projects helped me develop my skills for working with large data sets.”

When was the last time you updated your knowledge on your specialty area?

This question can help the interviewer determine how passionate you are about your career and whether you’re committed to continuing your education. Your answer should include a specific example of when you took time out of your schedule to learn more about your field.

Example: “I recently attended a seminar on new developments in my specialty area, which was presented by one of the leading experts in the industry. I also regularly read articles from journals and magazines that discuss advancements in biology. In addition, I have taken several online courses that helped me understand complex concepts related to genetics.”

We want our biologists to be adaptable to changes in the field. Describe a time when you had to adapt to a new requirement or change in your work environment.

This question can help the interviewer determine how adaptable you are to new situations and challenges. Use your answer to highlight your ability to learn quickly, solve problems and work independently.

Example: “When I first started working as a biologist, my company was using an older software program for data collection. However, we were required to use a newer version of the software because it had more features that would allow us to complete our tasks more efficiently. At first, I found the change challenging, but I learned how to adapt by watching videos on how to use the new software. After a few days, I felt comfortable with the new system.”

Describe your process for troubleshooting an experiment that isn’t working.

This question is a great way to assess your problem-solving skills and how you approach challenges. Your answer should include the steps you take when troubleshooting, as well as an example of a time when you had to do this in the past.

Example: “I first try to determine what went wrong by reading through my notes and looking at my data. If I can’t find anything that seems out of place, then I will start over with the experiment. If it happens again, then I know there was something wrong with the initial setup or execution. If it happens a third time, then I know there is something wrong with the hypothesis. In my last job, I once had to repeat an experiment three times before I could figure out why it wasn’t working. It turned out that one of the variables we were testing for was incorrect.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates applying for this job?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their organization. Before your interview, make a list of three things that make you unique as a biologist. These could be specific skills or experiences that relate to the job description.

Example: “I have experience working with large groups of people on projects. In my last position, I led a team of five biologists who were researching endangered species in South America. We had to work together to collect data and analyze it before presenting our findings to the public. This experience has prepared me for leading a larger team at your company.”

Which computer programming languages do you know how to use?

This question can help the interviewer determine your computer skills. If you have experience using specific programming languages, name them in your response. If you don’t know any, mention that you’re willing to learn new ones.

Example: “I’ve used Python and R for my research projects. I’m also familiar with JavaScript, C++ and Java.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of lab safety?

Interviewers ask this question to make sure you understand the importance of lab safety and how it can affect your work. They want to know that you have a strong understanding of what is safe in the lab and what isn’t, so they can be confident that you will follow all protocols and procedures when working with them. In your answer, explain why you think lab safety is important and give an example of how you would implement safety into your daily tasks.

Example: “I believe the most important aspect of lab safety is following proper procedure at all times. Lab safety is something I take very seriously because I don’t want to put anyone else in danger or compromise any data we are collecting. When working on my previous projects, I always made sure to read through every step before starting any experiment. This helped me avoid making mistakes and ensured that I was doing everything correctly.”

How often do you perform quality checks on your experiments?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you ensure the accuracy of your work. They want to know that you’re detail-oriented and committed to producing high-quality results. In your answer, explain what steps you take to make sure your experiments are accurate. You can also mention any specific tools or software you use to help with quality control.

Example: “I perform quality checks on my experiments throughout the entire process. I start by double-checking all of my data before entering it into a program for analysis. Then, I run several tests using different methods to confirm the validity of my findings. Finally, I review my results one last time before submitting them.”

There is a new technology that could drastically change how you perform your experiments. How would you go about learning how to use it?

This question is a great way to assess your ability to adapt and learn new things. It also shows the interviewer that you are open to change, which can be important in an ever-evolving field like biology. Your answer should show that you are willing to put in the time and effort to learn something new.

Example: “I would first do some research on the technology itself. I would then find out what it could do for my experiments and how it might affect them. After this, I would try to get my hands on the technology as soon as possible so I could start experimenting with it. This will allow me to understand its strengths and weaknesses and determine if it’s right for my work.”