Chapter 8 Interview

Interview a scientist during your internship to hear how they experienced their (early) career.

Assignment 8

For this assignment, you pick a researcher in a field of your liking and interview them about their studies, work experience and everything that contributes to their current employment.

To pass this assignment, you:

  • Record the interview. (Make sure to ask for permission to the interviewee.)
  • Ask all obligatory questions and at least two optional questions. If you don’t like the optional questions you have to think of two questions yourself.
  • Write at least 400 words about the answers.

Hand in the assignment on Brightspace before the deadline (1 April).

Disclaimer: Some people are more open than others, so please try to read the room and make sure that your interviewee stays comfortable answering your questions. If your interviewee refuses to answer a question, that is okay. Ask them if they are willing to answer a different question.

Obligatory questions

  • Who are you and what is your current job?
  • What did you study? (Also ask about their specialization/research projects.)
  • Did you choose to do a PhD? If yes/no, why?
  • Did you know what kind of work you wanted to do while studying?
  • Do you have any tips for students who are currently pursuing a career in biology?

Optional questions

  • Did you go abroad during your (study) career?
  • Is your job suitable to combine with volunteer work/your family/a time-consuming hobby?
  • Are you considering changing jobs anywhere soon and why?
  • What is the workload of your job?
  • Would you have done anything differently during your study? (e.g., different courses, a different specialization, going abroad)
  • Did it take you a long time to find a job after graduating?
  • What achievement during your studies and/or career are you most proud of?

Do not forget to include your full name and student number. Deadline: 16 April 23:59

FAQ

Who am I allowed to interview?

Your interviewee can be anyone directly involved in your internship, except for fellow students (BSc or MSc). PhD-students, technicians, postdocs and professors are all allowed. If you do your internship in a non-academic environment and you have someone in mind, make sure to choose someone who has at least 2 years of work experience.

My interviewee does not want to answer a question. What should I do?

Either pick a different question from the list, or make up a question yourself. If the interviewee answers the question but asks you to keep it confidential, you can summarize it into a general sentence (e.g.: “Due to personal circumstances the interviewee could not finish their studies.”) or skip the question as a whole. If they do not want to answer an obligatory question, don’t forget to state that in your assignment.

My interviewee gives very short answers. How do I get to 400 words?

Try to ask follow up questions. For example, if you ask whether they liked doing a PhD and they only answer yes, ask them what aspects of their PhD made it worthwhile, or if they obtained a goal they are very proud of. You can also expand by including your own opinions about their answers, whether you can relate to them, etc.