Top Biological Technician Interview Questions and Answers

Landing a job as a biological technician requires strong lab skills and the ability to troubleshoot technical problems Expect interviewers to thoroughly assess your practical laboratory experience and technical knowledge

This article explores some of the most common biological technician interview questions you’re likely to face Mastering answers to these questions will help you stand out from other candidates and showcase your value,

Let’s start by looking at questions assessing your basic lab skills:

Lab Experience Interview Questions

Employers want to confirm you have solid hands-on experience and can hit the ground running if hired. Common questions include:

What lab equipment do you have experience using?

Highlight tools you’re proficient with like:

• Microscopes – compound, stereo, electron, etc.

• Analyzers – spectrophotometers, chromatographs, etc.

• Glassware – beakers, test tubes, flasks, etc.

• Lab instruments – centrifuges, incubators, water baths, etc.

• Safety equipment – fume hoods, biohazard bags, PPE, etc.

Listing specific makes and models will strengthen your answer.

What steps do you take to avoid contamination?

Emphasize techniques like:

• Using sterile gloves, lab coats, and masks

• Working near Bunsen burners or in fume hoods

• Using separate sterile equipment for each sample

• Frequently disinfecting work areas

• Properly disposing contaminated materials

• Following established lab safety protocols

Outlining rigorous contamination prevention practices will instill confidence.

What were your previous responsibilities in a lab setting?

Highlight relevant experience like:

• Preparing chemical solutions and cell cultures

• Operating analytical instruments and collecting data

• Documentation – recording observations, maintaining lab notebooks

• Sample processing – centrifugation, aliquoting, extraction

• Following SOPs for assays and experiments

• Basic lab maintenance – cleaning equipment, stocking supplies

Quantify your experience in terms of time spent in labs and specific techniques mastered.

Technical Skills Interview Questions

Employers also want to probe your technical expertise with questions like:

What sterilization methods are you familiar with?

Demonstrate breadth by mentioning:

• Autoclaving – uses pressurized steam

• Dry heat sterilization – ovens incinerate contaminants

• UV radiation – UV lamps destroy bacteria and viruses

• Chemical sterilization – alcohols, hydrogen peroxide

• Filtration – filters out microorganisms

Being able to explain these techniques shows strong technical knowledge.

What is your approach to working with large sets of data?

Highlight skills like:

• Using scripts for automating data processing

• Cleaning and normalizing data for analysis

• Using statistical software like R or Python for analysis

• Data visualization using charts, graphs, and heat maps

• Identifying trends and relationships in complex data

• Collaborating with bioinformaticians for large datasets

The ability to derive insights from data is a key requirement.

How do you ensure consistency in following protocols?

Emphasize:

• Carefully reading through protocols before starting

• Referring back to protocols frequently while working

• Double checking calculations for solution preparation

• Consistently using calibrated pipettes and timers

• Cross-checking with coworkers if unclear

• Asking for help when unfamiliar with techniques

Consistency is vital for reproducing experiments accurately.

Behavioral Interview Questions

Employers also use behavioral questions to assess soft skills:

Tell me about a time you successfully collaborated with other technicians.

Pick an example highlighting skills like:

• Active listening and communication

• Being patient and providing assistance

• Dividing up tasks fairly

• Making sure the team stayed on schedule

• Celebrating team achievements

Collaboration and teamwork allow labs to complete complex projects.

Describe a situation where you had to pay close attention to detail.

Share a story demonstrating how you:

• Take time to carefully check equipment calibrations

• Use checklists for multi-step experiments

• Double check measurements and calculations

• Review protocols before starting experiments

• Verify recorded data for accuracy after finishing

Attention to detail is critical for producing reliable lab results.

Tell me about a time you proactively solved a problem in the lab.

Choose an example showing:

• How you noticed the problem early

• Steps taken to diagnose root cause

• How you came up with a creative solution

• How you implemented the solution

• How you followed up to prevent recurrence

Proactivity and problem-solving ability is highly valued.

With preparation, these common biological technician interview questions shouldn’t pose much difficulty. Use the STAR method – give Situation, Task, Action, and Result examples demonstrating the desired skills. With practice, you’ll be able to effectively showcase both your lab skills and ability to adapt to any interview scenario. Best of luck with your upcoming interviews!