personal presentation for phd interview

Newly Launched - AI Presentation Maker

Researched by Consultants from Top-Tier Management Companies

Powerpoint Templates

Icon Bundle

Kpi Dashboard

Professional

Business Plans

Swot Analysis

Gantt Chart

Business Proposal

Marketing Plan

Project Management

Business Case

Business Model

Cyber Security

Business PPT

Digital Marketing

Digital Transformation

Human Resources

Product Management

Artificial Intelligence

Company Profile

Acknowledgement PPT

PPT Presentation

Reports Brochures

One Page Pitch

Interview PPT

All Categories

Top 10 Ph.D. Interview Presentation Templates With Samples and Examples

Mayuri Gangwal

Do you know that only 56 % of students complete their Ph.D.? Factors such as students' age, department, and lack of a good mentor sometimes contribute to the non-completion rate. Indeed, the journey to earning a doctoral degree is challenging. It involves years of research and extensive writing. However, most students find a lack of focus and motivation to be the primary reason for their failure.

If you prepare for the PhD interview, PhD presentation slides can benefit you in several ways. For instance, templates save considerable time and effort and allow to focus on content delivery. Furthermore, for amateurs creating presentations, templates help them to organize content effectively.

At the same time, candidates often face several challenges regarding content creation and delivery. Templates can help streamline the process, but being aware of potential pitfalls is essential. Here are some common challenges associated with using presentation templates for PhD interviews:

In a recent survey, 6 out of 10 students feel nervous and anxious before the final presentation. It is because they find it challenging to communicate the importance of their research effectively. Crafting visually appealing slides can be tricky, especially for those without a design background. Did you find this relatable? Yes, our PhD interview templates can be a valuable solution for you.

They serve as valuable tools for creating well-structured presentations and assist students in delivering a solid defense for their Doctoral theses. Let's dive in and learn more about these templates and see how they can be valuable resources in your academic journey.

Template 1: Thesis Research Paper Proposal Template

This template can elevate your academic presentations to the next level. It is tailored specially for scholars, researchers, and students. It helps them embark on the rigorous journey of thesis proposal development and ensures that their research proposals are remembered. This template's uniqueness is its visually appealing designs. It integrates text, graphs, and tables and provides a solid structure to your presentation. Whether it's for your academic review or seminars, this template empowers you with confidence and clarity.

Download this template and make your proposal more impactful.

Template 2: Research Proposal Steps Template

Use this template to streamline your research proposal creation process. It is a comprehensive resource covering every crucial aspect of a research proposal. You can use this template to craft an engaging cover letter for your proposal. Thus, this template ensures that your proposal is compelling and professionally presented. Additionally, this template simplifies the process of conveying complex research plans. This template is structured to guide you through the essential steps of the research proposal. It will help you present your research coherently and persuasively. Download now!

Download this template today and embark on a seamless journey of crafting your thesis proposal.

Template 3: Research Proposal for Thesis Template

This template can help you effectively present your thesis proposal. It also ensures that you get sponsors for your project by providing a professional look at your proposal. So, this template is a must for someone presenting their hypothesis, as it provides a solid foundation for the presentation. The template encompasses a variety of crucial elements, from the thesis statement to the project stages.

Download and leverage this template today to focus on critical market components.

Template 4: Abstract for Thesis Research Proposal Template

This PPT Set helps streamline the complex process of crafting compelling research proposals by providing a structured and intuitive design. The template is divided into two parts. The first consists of six sections briefly describing the thesis. The second part includes a summary and description of the content. Thus, it empowers users to articulate their research objectives and methodologies precisely so that their proposal not only meets but also exceeds expectations.

Download this template today and elevate your academic work to new heights.

Template 5: Research Method Overview Template

This template is designed for ambitious scholars to help them dive into the essence of academic precision. This template helps researchers by providing them with a robust and logical roadmap for their research. This not only increases their efficiency but also helps them select the best research method. This template provides a clear picture of the target audience and how to conduct the study. Thus, this template acts as a catalyst for boosting the proposal's effectiveness. Want to transform your proposal into a compelling narrative that commands attention and respect?

Research Method Overview for Thesis Research Paper Proposal

Download this template today.

Template 6: Method of Data Collection for Thesis Research Paper Proposal

It is the best template for someone looking to elevate their data collection methods. This template provides a clear and professional way to collect data for academic brilliance. It provides a structured framework to articulate the rationale behind the chosen manner. Thus, it is a template and a strategic tool for showcasing your research and methodology. It ensures that your proposal stands out to provide a deep understanding of your work. Additionally, this template helps you communicate complex methodologies in an accessible manner and develop a deeper connection with your audience.

Download this template today and transform your thesis proposal into a masterpiece.

Template 7: Work Plan with Timetable Template

It is a versatile template that is designed to help professionals across industries. It helps them organize and present their project plans clearly and precisely. The template is divided into three sub-templates to simplify the entire planning phase. The first template includes various activities associated with a specific completion month. It helps you stay organized by outlining different tasks and actions. The second template delves deeper into project activities by outlining a detailed weekly work plan. This way, it provides better visibility and time management. Additionally, it helps you allocate your resources efficiently and prioritize activities. The third and the last templates provide different stages with their names and timeframes, adding to the level of detail and enhancing the proposed research's feasibility.

Download this template today to take the first step toward achieving project excellence.

Template 8: Implication of Research Template

This professional template helps you unlock the full potential of your research findings. It is a cornerstone for scholars and professionals eager to convey the significance of their research. The template is Structured as a four-stage process to help students present their research implications. The template's design not only presents data in a captive and visually appealing manner. But it also narrates the story behind your findings and their relevance in real-world applications. Further, this template gives the researcher the chance to explore a variety of angles and helps them consider different aspects of the issue, making research more comprehensive. It further makes research more versatile and applicable to various contexts, which makes it relevant to a broader audience.

Download this template today and bridge the gap between academic research and applications.

Template 9: Aims and Objective of Research Proposal for Thesis Template (Slide 5)

This template is the blueprint for academic success. It is designed to elevate your doctoral thesis proposal. It helps you create a concise and compelling presentation outlining your research objectives. On one side, it highlights the study's objectives, while on the other, it highlights the expected outcome. This way, it ensures that your academic goals are understood easily because lack of clarity may confuse the audience. So, this template sets the stage by explaining what the study aims to achieve.

Download this template today to embark on a journey of research excellence.

Template 10: Dissertation Methodology Template

This comprehensive template can assist students through the complexities of the research approach. It can be their ultimate guide in structuring and presenting their methodology. This template subdivides the entire process into four distinguished subheadings to streamline the process. The first subheading outlines the resources that can be instrumental in research. The second subheading highlights the diversity of the research inputs and helps categorize and organize the gathered data. The following subheading details the analytical techniques for validating your findings. The last, but not least, subheadings discuss the various collection methods and illustrate the strategic approach for gathering comprehensive data.

Download this template to set a solid foundation for your dissertation.

Conclusion

A student takes 4 to 7 years to complete his Ph.D., requiring strategic planning, dedication, and dedication. Additionally, writing and publishing journals is not a cakewalk. It needs exceptional scholars' writing skills along with critical thinking. Our thesis-dissertation templates can open doors to various opportunities and establish you as a credible and competent researcher.

Additionally, our thesis timeline templates help you streamline your project planning. It also bridges the gap between academic reading and research with real-world applications.

Download these templates today and pave the way for a successful and impactful career.

How to Design the Perfect Service Launch Presentation [Custom Launch Deck Included]
Quarterly Business Review Presentation: All the Essential Slides You Need in Your Deck
[Updated 2023] How to Design The Perfect Product Launch Presentation [Best Templates Included]
99% of the Pitches Fail! Find Out What Makes Any Startup a Success

Liked this blog? Please recommend us

Must-Have Software Migration Plan Templates with Examples and Samples

Top 10 Hedge Fund Pitch Deck Templates with Samples and Examples

This form is protected by reCAPTCHA - the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

--> Digital revolution powerpoint presentation slides

--> Sales funnel results presentation layouts

--> 3d men joinning circular jigsaw puzzles ppt graphics icons

--> Business Strategic Planning Template For Organizations Powerpoint Presentation Slides

--> Future plan powerpoint template slide

--> Project Management Team Powerpoint Presentation Slides

--> Brand marketing powerpoint presentation slides

--> Launching a new service powerpoint presentation with slides go to market

--> Agenda powerpoint slide show

--> Four key metrics donut chart with percentage

--> Engineering and technology ppt inspiration example introduction continuous process improvement

--> Meet our team representing in circular format

Introduce yourself in a PhD interview (4 simple steps + examples)

The opening of an application interview for a PhD position usually starts with short introductions of everyone participating in the conversation. Many applicants wonder how to best introduce themselves in a PhD interview. Four simple steps (including examples) help you to develop a powerful self-introduction .

Introductions in a PhD interview

On the one hand, the interview is an advanced stage in the PhD application process and a reason to celebrate having come so far.

A PhD application interview requires you to react quickly to questions, and you will never know what exactly the admissions committee will ask. Nonetheless, you can properly prepare for a PhD interview. One of the elements is preparing a powerful introduction of yourself.

A self-introduction summarises who you are and why you want the PhD position. A powerful self-introduction can set the tone for the whole interview.

What to do in a PhD interview introduction

What not to do in a phd interview introduction.

Several things are best to be avoided when you introduce yourself in a PhD interview:

Step 1: State your full name

.”

Step 2: Give a brief overview of your educational (and professional) background

Step 3: Explain why you are interested in the PhD position

The next step is to justify your interest in the PhD position. There are several powerful ways to explain why you want to do a PhD.

Step 4: Thank everyone for the opportunity to be interviewed

Master academia, get new content delivered directly to your inbox, 10 key skills of successful master's students, clever strategies to keep up with the latest academic research, related articles, the different stages in the manuscript publication process, the best coursera courses for phd researchers in 2023, co-authorship guidelines to successfully co-author a scientific paper, 10 tips on how to use reference management software smartly and efficiently.

PhD Interview Questions and Answers – 12 Things You May Be Asked

PhD Interview Questions and Answers

Written by Mark Bennett

Your PhD interview will be an important part of your postgraduate research application. This is your chance to meet your prospective department, discuss your project and show your potential as an academic researcher.

Of course, it’s also when that potential is going to be assessed.

You’ll need to show an awareness of what’s involved in a PhD project and prove that you have the right aspirations and approach to work on one for three (or more) years. You’ll also need to make it clear that this is the right university , department, research group or laboratory for you.

None of this has to be especially intimidating. Putting some thought into your project and your choice of institution can make answering PhD entrance interview questions quite simple.

On this page we’ve put together a list of the questions you might be asked at an interview. We’ve also explained why the university might be asking each question, and provided some tips on how to answer them

You won’t necessarily be asked all of these questions – and you almost certainly won’t be asked them in the order here. Some of them also overlap with each other. But they’re all topics that you should prepare to discuss at a PhD interview .

We’ve also included a selection of questions to ask during a PhD interview .

Let's get you PhD ready

Interview questions about you

Your qualities as a researcher, team-member and individual are some of the most important factors in a university’s decision to accept you for a PhD.

Regardless of your subject area, you need to be the kind of person who can dedicate themselves to a three-year project. You also need to be able to work alongside other students and academics in a positive and successful research environment.

The interview is the best way for a university to assess this. Just as there’s more to doing a PhD than research and writing, there’s more to a prospective candidate than their academic record.

#1 Tell us about yourself…

This popular opener can feel like an awkwardly open ‘question’.

You’ll be prepared to explain your project, to say what a great fit it is for the university, perhaps even reference some current research. But how do you ‘answer’ an invitation to introduce yourself?

By introducing yourself.

Your interview panel isn’t trying to catch you out here. They’re offering an icebreaker to help ease you into the rest of the interview.

Obviously your response should be relevant to the occasion. But it doesn’t just have to be a presentation of your academic achievements, interests and goals (the interview will get to those in time!).

Say a little about your background, where you’re from and what your interests are. Don’t be afraid to relate these to your academic specialism and your choice of university.

If something specific inspired you to consider a PhD, mention it. If there’s something that’s attracted you to this city as well as the university, say so. (There’ll be plenty of time to talk up the institution and its research later).

I’ve always been interested in discovering how things work, but my time as an undergraduate opened my eyes to the excitement and wider benefit of science. I had the chance to do some original research on my Masters and that’s inspired me to take up the challenge of a PhD. I’m also a keen hiker and amateur naturalist, so I’d love to combine my studies here with the chance to visit the local area.
I was born in a house next to the local post-office. My first cat was called Timothy and he liked chasing string. At school my best friend was Kevin. My favourite colour is blue and my favourite flavour of ice-cream is raspberry ripple…

#2 What made you choose to do a PhD?

At some point in your interview your interviewers are going to want to know why you decided to do a doctorate.

This may seem like a simple question, but be wary of giving an overly simplistic answer. Just pointing out that you’re good at your subject and a PhD seemed like the logical next step won’t be enough – especially if there’s a funding decision to be made.

The panel is already satisfied that you’re academically capable and interested. You’ve demonstrated that by getting an interview (and turning up for it).

Now they want to assure themselves that you’ve got the motivation and drive to see you through three or more years of hard work on a PhD project.

I’ve enjoyed my academic work so far, but I really feel I’ve got more to offer as an independent researcher. I’m also passionate about this subject and don’t feel enough attention has been paid to the questions I’m looking to address.
I can’t think of anything to do with my Masters, but my current tutor says I’m clever enough for a PhD.

#3 What do you plan to do after you complete your PhD?

It might seem strange for your panel to ask about your post PhD plans. After all, those don’t have any really impact on your ability to do a PhD, do they? And graduation is at least three years away in any case; should you have thought that far ahead?

The answers to which are ‘yes’ and ‘of course you should.’

Universities want to make sure you’re doing a PhD for the right reasons (as above). Asking about your future plans is a great way to check this.

Students who ‘sleepwalk’ into a research project are much more likely to come unstuck or lose motivation when the going gets tough later on.

This doesn’t mean you have to have everything worked out, or that your ambitions have to be unique. If you're planning to apply for a post-doc after your PhD, say so. But demonstrate an understanding of academic career paths – and show that you’ve put some thought into alternatives.

It’s also the case that not everyone who gains a doctorate will go on to an academic job. Universities want to recruit PhD students responsibly and provide the kinds of skills and training they actually need.

So, don’t feel that you have to want to be a scholar to be accepted for a PhD. Research training can prepare you for a range of career paths . An appreciation of these will impress your interview panel. (Particularly if you’re applying for a professional doctorate ).

I feel my PhD project can open up new lines of inquiry for this field and want to use it as the foundation for a fruitful research career. But, I’m also interested in the wider development opportunities included in this doctoral programme. I want to be an academic, but I’m happy to keep other options open.
I expect someone will give me a job doing more research. That’s what PhDs do, right?

#4 What are your strengths and weaknesses?

A well-worn question, but a great opportunity to reflect on your abilities - as well as opportunities for further development during your PhD.

What your panel is really interested in is not so much what your strengths and weaknesses actually are , but your ability to identify them.

In practice, this means giving solid examples for strengths and showing how they relate to the PhD project you have in mind.

Don’t just say you’re a good time-keeper. Point out when you’ve had to be well organised and show that you understand the importance of self-directed study to a successful PhD.

When it comes to weaknesses, maintain the right balance.

A PhD interview probably isn’t the best time to wallow in existential self-doubt (unless you’re applying for a very specific topic in Philosophy). Equally though, answers like ‘my only downfall is excessive perfectionism’ can sound a bit contrived. If the panel is asking you about strengths and weaknesses, they want you to identify and reflect on both.

Be honest about the things you find challenging, but identify them as training needs and discuss how you expect to improve upon them as part of your PhD.

I feel that I’m a good written communicator. My existing academic and professional work demonstrates an ability to put forward ideas clearly and concisely. I think this will help me manage the weight of information my PhD research needs to cover and the challenge of producing an effective thesis. But, I’m not always as organised as I’d like to be. I want to address this as part of my postgraduate training and hope to take advantage of classes and development opportunities early in my doctorate.
My greatest strength is that I have no weaknesses! And my only weakness is that I have no strengths. Hang on...

#5 Are there any training needs you can identify ahead of your PhD?

This question (and its answer) can be part of an invitation to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses (as above).

But, you may be asked about training needs more specifically. This is likely if you’re applying to a more structured programme, within a Doctoral Training Partnership or similar.

Either way, this is a great opportunity to reflect on your aspirations as a researcher and show that you’ve read up on the project you’re applying to. If the university offers a series of training modules, mention them. Say what you hope to gain from them and how you think they’ll help you succeed in your PhD.

You might also want to refer to any discussion of your aims and aspirations with a doctorate. If you’re keeping an open mind about non-academic career paths, show an awareness of the transferrable skills this PhD can give you.

And don’t worry about revealing a few gaps in the core skills required by your discipline. A PhD is a training process, not a three-year exam.

I’m really interested in communicating my research to a wider audience, but don’t know how best to go about doing this. I think the training module on public engagement will be a big help to me, both academically and more generally.
I’m really bad at interviews. Do you have a class for that?

Interview questions about your PhD project

This is the university’s chance to further assess your suitability for an advertised PhD position, and the likely fit between your planned project and the expertise it has available.

It’s also your chance to expand on your research proposal and show that you have the skills, experience and understanding to complete a doctorate. For funded places (or other competitive projects), this is the time for you to prove that you are the best student for this PhD.

It’s a good idea to reference your research proposal (or other appropriate parts of your application) when answering these questions. But expand upon what the panel has already read. (And make sure there isn’t anything in that proposal that you aren’t confident enough to ‘back up’ in your interview!)

#6 Why this project?

The exact focus of this question will depend on whether you’re applying for an advertised PhD project (more common in Science, Engineering and Medicine) or proposing your own research within a department's PhD programme (more common in Arts, Humanities and some branches of the Social Sciences).

If you’re being considered for a pre-defined project, make sure you know it inside out. Say what it is that interests you about it. Compare it to similar projects (if appropriate) and explain your particular choice.

If you’re proposing your own project, this is your chance to show some passion and enthusiasm for it. Refer to your research proposal and take the opportunity to discuss and expand upon it.

In both cases you should point to some existing scholarship and show an awareness of the field you’ll be entering. You’ll also want to re-iterate what makes your project distinctive. After all, the PhD is defined as offering ‘an original contribution to knowledge.’

This doesn’t mean preparing a comprehensive list of key works or current research projects (that ‘literature review’ will be one of the first things you do on the actual PhD). At this stage the panel just wants to see that you understand your proposed project and are enthusiastic enough to see it through.

Depending on how the question is phrased, you may also discuss your choice of university at this stage – or explain why your previous work makes you a good fit for this particular PhD (see below).

This PhD appeals to my existing research interests. But I’m also attracted by the opportunity to specialise and develop new expertise. Other projects didn’t seem to offer the same possibilities to pursue the questions that really interest me.
To be honest, I’ll do anything if it’s funded.

#7 What makes you the right candidate for this PhD?

If you’re applying for a pre-defined PhD project , you’ll almost certainly be asked why you are the best candidate to undertake it (especially if there’s funding available).

Remember too that some of these projects aren’t automatically funded. Their financing can depend on the quality of the student they attract, so your panel will be very keen to make sure you’re going to be ‘Dr Right’.

You might still be asked about your suitability for a self-proposed PhD (in Arts or Humanities, for example). This is another way for your interviewers to assess those all-important motivation and commitment factors.

Whatever your situation, this is a good place to talk a bit about your previous work at undergraduate or Masters level. The panel already knows the grades you received, but now you have the chance to talk about what you actually did on those degrees. Show passion and give examples.

If an undergraduate module on gothic literature inspired you to propose a PhD on an under-researched aspect of eighteenth-century culture, say so. If your Masters has given you skills in exactly the kind of statistical analysis required by this doctorate, mention that.

I’ve been interested in this topic since the final year of my undergraduate degree. This lead to my choice of Masters and helped me pick my dissertation topic, which I really enjoyed. I’m really excited to now go on and do some sustained research in this area as a PhD student.
Well, I really like books…

#8 What difficulties do you expect to encounter during this project?

This is another fairly popular question topic. It might form part of a discussion of your strengths, weaknesses and training needs. Or you might be invited to speak more specifically about the challenges involved in your project.

The panel isn’t trying to catch you out here, so don’t be afraid to speak frankly. All projects involve their own potential pitfalls and complications.

Overcoming them will be part of completing a PhD; recognising them will show that you're ready to begin one.

Show that you’ve put some thought into the approach necessary for your research and the methodology you might use.

Don’t be afraid to identify problems you aren’t yet certain how to solve (the best way to organise some data, the authors to include in your initial survey of texts, etc) but suggest how you might go about investigating them.

This is also a good time to mention any training needs (if you haven’t already) and speak about how you plan to take advantage of development opportunities within your programme.

I can see that some of the archival material I’ll need to examine for this project may be difficult to access. My first task will be to request permissions, arrange visits and develop a system for recording my findings. I’m hoping to undertake training in archival practices and seek advice from my supervisor as I develop these key skills early in my project.
Yeah, I know a PhD is hard, but I’m just going to see how I get on.

#9 What would you like the impact of this project to be?

‘Impact’ is an increasingly important factor in academic work and this applies to PhD research too – especially if you’re funded.

Even if your panel doesn’t explicitly ask about impact, it’s a good idea to mention what you hope the wider outcome of your project might be. If you are asked this question – and are prepared for it – this is a great chance to get a leg up on the competition.

Impact essentially refers to the measurable effects of research outside academia. It’s a given that your PhD will have an effect on future work in your field. But universities are increasingly focussed on the benefits of their work beyond the ‘ivory tower’ of higher education and research.

This is particularly important if your project is funded. The money supporting your studies will probably have come from public revenues (via a Research Council studentship) or from a large charity or trust. Those organisations will want to make sure their investment is worthwhile.

Examples of impact differ a bit between fields.

If you’re in the Social Sciences you may already have some idea of the ‘outputs’ from your project. These could be educational workshops, policy guidance, etc.

If you’re in Science, Medicine or Engineering you’ll hope to provide economic benefits to industry or to healthcare.

Arts and Humanities PhDs can have impact too. Think about the ways in which you could take part in public engagement, such as teaching people about local history or archival resources. You could partner with local schools, or even media companies producing documentary work.

I’m keen to share my passion for this subject with a wider audience. I’m hoping to maintain a public-facing blog documenting my research. I would also be keen to approach local schools and museums to discuss educational events.
To be honest, I can’t really see how my work on medieval manuscript preservation has any benefit outside the university. I’d still like some funding though.

#10 How will you fund this project?

This question is obviously more likely in interviews for non-funded PhDs. (It would be somewhat strange for a university to ask you about funding for a project that carries a full studentship).

However, you might still be asked about contingency plans if funding falls through (particularly if funding hasn’t been secured at this stage) or if your project over-runs.

Self-funding students will obviously need to go into more detail here. It’s not the responsibility of your university to ask for a complete breakdown of your finances (or for you to provide one). Yet the panel will want to be sure that you understand the cost involved in doing a PhD and have some kind of plans in place.

It’s fine to say that you’ll be looking for extra funding and part-time work as you start the project. But make it clear that you’ll still have enough time to apply yourself to the actual research.

I’ve shortlisted external funders and would be keen to investigate any small bursaries or other forms of support through the university. I’ve also made arrangements to work part-time, with the option to adjust this if my funding situation improves.
I have no idea how I’m going to afford this. Are you sure I can’t have a scholarship?

Interview questions about your choice of university

Unsurprisingly, your interview panel will be interested to know why you’ve chosen their university for your PhD.

If proposing your own project you’ll be asked about the fit between your research aims and the expertise of the department you’d be entering.

If applying to a pre-defined PhD, you’ll be invited to explain why this laboratory or research group particularly appeals to you and what you yourself can contribute to them.

Preparing for these kinds of questions is actually quite easy. Read up on your prospective university, department and supervisors. Show that you’re aware of the kind of work they do and give examples.

Feel free to mention other aspects of the university that appeal to you – its reputation, its alumni, even its location – but keep the main focus on the fit between your work and their research environment.

#11 Why have you chosen to study a PhD at this university?

Whatever else your panel asks, you can be pretty sure a question about your choice of university and department will crop up at some point in a PhD interview.

Your answer gives you the opportunity to do several important things.

Most obviously you can talk about the university and its research. Explain why you’d like to study with these supervisors in particular, when you’ve used their work during your Bachelors degree or Masters (if relevant) and how you can contribute to their future projects.

This is also an opportunity to reiterate your awareness of the wider research context for your project. If other departments or laboratories are undertaking related work, mention that. Say what attracted you to this university in particular and what you hope to achieve as one of its students.

If your PhD is part of a structured Doctoral Programme (as is increasingly likely) you can touch on any training and development opportunities it includes. You may mention these elsewhere in your interview, but make sure to include them when speaking about the university’s appeal to you.

Finally, show an awareness of any relevant research facilities, resources or collections.

Does the university hold a unique archive? Suggest how it might support your investigations. Has the laboratory you’re working in been equipped with any new facilities? Show that you know about them and are interested in using them (as relevant).

Universities spend a lot of money on facilities and resources. They want students – particularly postgraduate researchers – who will make use of them.

I’ve looked at lots of opportunities in this area. I feel that this project is the best of its kind, combining a unique research angle with a training programme that will meet my professional needs. I was already familiar with the work of my prospective supervisor and their research has greatly informed my own development as a scholar. I’m eager to combine my work with theirs and make use of the facilities the university has put together for this project.
I did my Masters here and already have a flat in the city.

#12 What can you bring to this research group?

PhD candidates are more than just students. You’ll function, in many ways, as a junior academic working within a wider research environment.

You’ll network with other students and academics. You’ll probably teach undergraduates. You may even publish some of your research (independently, or alongside your supervisor).

This means that your potential contribution to a department or laboratory is, in many ways, just as important as what it can offer you.

If you’re asked a question about this, take the opportunity to sell yourself a little.

Talk about your experience (academic or professional) and outline your ambitions. Make it clear that you will provide a return on the time, money and resources that the university is considering investing in you.

I’m eager to take advantage of the facilities and expertise this university has to offer. But I also want to contribute with my own expertise and enthusiasm. My previous work has given me the skills to make the most of the material involved in this project and I’m motivated to participate in new training. I’ll be proud to be a part of this department and would actively seek to represent it through my own publications and other research outputs.
I have a Bachelors and a Masters in this subject so I’m quite clever.

What to ask in a PhD interview

Your PhD entrance interview will probably end with an invitation for you to ask your own questions of the panel. This part of the interview is as important as the answers you'll have already given.

Asking good questions demonstrates your motivation. It also shows that you’ve given some genuine consideration to the project and / or programme you’re applying to.

Don’t just ask questions ‘for effect’ though. This is your chance to find out more about the project you’ll be doing, the people you’ll be working with and the expectations of you as a PhD student.

Remember: you’re a good student, with lots of potential. You’re considering at least three years of hard work with this university. You need to know that you’ll get on with your supervisor, that your work will be appreciated and that there are good prospects for your project.

You’re here to be interviewed for a PhD, but nothing’s stopping you from doing a little interviewing of your own.

Here are a few good questions to considering asking at your PhD interview. They include ways to express enthusiasm for your project, as well as some useful inquiries to make for yourself:

What will the supervision arrangements be for the project?

This shows that you’re thinking practically and looking ahead to the process of actually doing the PhD. It’s also something you’ll probably want to check for yourself.

What kind of training and skills sessions are offered as part of the PhD programme?

This shows that you’re interested in the development opportunities that form part of a modern PhD. It’s also a good way to address any concerns you have about your own skills. Be careful though. Avoid asking simple questions about material that’s already covered in the PhD project description, or in the university’s postgraduate prospectus.

Will I have opportunities to teach / present / publish?

This is something else you’ll want to know for yourself, but it also demonstrates a practical approach to your PhD (and future career). A good PhD programme should offer some opportunity to teach or demonstrate towards the end of your project. Equally, you should be encouraged to communicate your research and supported in doing so.

How many other PhD students has this supervisor seen to completion?

Don’t be afraid to ask about previous students and what they’ve gone on to do. You may also want to know if you’ll be working with or alongside other students and what the arrangements for that will be.

Are there likely to be any changes to the funding arrangements for the project?

A good practical question. If you’re applying for a funded place, make sure you understand the terms of that funding (its duration, whether you can combine it with any other income, etc). If you’re currently self-funding, it won’t hurt to ask if the university anticipates having any support available for you in future.

Is the university or department likely to run any events or other associated projects during the period of my PhD?

This might not seem like an obvious question, but it’s worth asking. The university might be in the early stages of planning a major hosted conference, external partnership or outreach project. Asking about these shows a genuine interest in your university and its research and suggests that you’ll be the right sort of PhD student to help deliver them. Needless to say, these kinds of projects are also excellent opportunities to gain experience and build your CV.

Other questions will probably occur to you according to your specific circumstances and the nature of the project you’re applying to.

Focus on the things that would concern you as a student actually doing the PhD in question, but avoid trivial topics. Your panel will be happy to talk about library resources and lab facilities. They’ll be less keen to advise on the best local pubs or say how often the bus runs between campus and town.

Also try to avoid asking for information that’s readily available elsewhere. This suggests you haven’t done your research – which is never a good sign when applying to do research.

Still looking for that perfect PhD project?

While you're preparing for the interview stage of applications, it's a good idea to keep searching as many PhD projects are advertised throughout the year .

Our postgrad newsletter shares courses, funding news, stories and advice

Select your nearest city

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox
Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and much more
Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Do you want hassle-free information and advice?

Create your FindAPhD account and sign up to our newsletter:

Find out about funding opportunities and application tips
Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest PhD news
Hear about our upcoming study fairs
Save your favourite projects, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates

Create your account

Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here .

Graduate School

“Tell Me About Yourself” PhD Interview Question & Expert Answers

The “tell me about yourself” PhD interview question seems like something you do not need to prepare for or think about. But ignoring the importance of this interview question imperils your candidacy, since admissions committees scrutinize this part of the interview as much as other elements of your application, like your grad school statement of purpose , research resume , or statement of intent . The “tell me about yourself” PhD interview question is among the most common and difficult graduate school interview questions, but the right prep will help you start the interview and set the tone for the rest of your conversation.

This article will detail the purpose behind this tough interview question, show you ways to build a response, and provide you with expert sample answers to inspire you.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Listen to the blog!

Article Contents 9 min read

What is the purpose of the “tell me about yourself” phd interview question.

“Tell me about yourself” is not a trick question. We promise. Graduate school interviews are designed to learn more about you, beyond the grades, test scores, and academic achievements listed on your graduate school resume . The point of the “tell me about yourself” PhD interview question is to get at the heart of what defines you as a person, student, instructor, and scholar. In short, this question is truly your chance to stand out.

But the “tell me about yourself” PhD interview question is also an exercise in conciseness and self-awareness. The way you answer matters as much as the content, and it reflects a lot about how you express yourself, how you see yourself, and what about your personality, intellect, and past experiences motivates you to pursue such an advanced degree.

Want to ace your grad school interview? Check out this video:

How to Prepare and Structure Your Answer

Areas to cover.

1. Background

PhD admissions officers are interested in your background, so you should start your answer with personal details like your name, where you were born, etc., and then mention more specific details, like your school, the degree you just finished, and what you’re doing currently, academically or professionally. You can also talk about other things unique to you, like if you’ve changed cities or countries to pursue your degree, and whether you are a parent.

2. Personal Story

You can use the introduction as a springboard to talk about the “inciting incident” of your story; the moment or event that made you realize you wanted to pursue art, engineering, or medicine. It is unique to you, obviously, but you should also be mindful of not spending too much time on describing the incident but rather, using it as a way to transition to the next section.

You can talk about the lead-up to the story, and the aftermath. Did your perspective change? Were you motivated to find answers to a problem or remedy some injustice? Talk about your motivations, feelings, and emotions in detail to make your story authentic and personable, while not devolving your story into parody or self-seriousness.

I think my passion for the fine arts started in my childhood church. Every Sunday I would stare at the murals depicting scenes from the Bible, mostly because of how different they were from traditional interpretations of religious imagery. The artist who designed these murals chose a more modern style to depict them. He used faceless figures and elongated shapes for their bodies instead of typical line drawings or classical imagery.

I was puzzled. But, at the same time, I thought it was bold. I realized how art can be freeing, in both style and subject. I saw how an artist expresses themselves through their choices and how those choices reflect their ideas, worldview, and state of mind. It was these possibilities that got me sketching. But that phase lasted only a few years, mostly because I had no talent for drawing.

However, my interest in the fine arts never went away. I knew that even if I could never be an artist, I could still have a career in research, restoration, and exploration of art history. I entered an undergrad in Art History with an emphasis on ancient art, which I buttressed with a part-time job working in the Winters Sculpture Gallery at Downtown University. It was working in the gallery that let me see how people truly interact with art. I was touched by the time and contemplation people put into an image or sculpture, regardless of the style or subject, the way people in churches sit, in silence, surrounded by what they consider holy and beautiful.

Exploring themes of worship and idolatry during my undergrad made me recall my own early childhood experiences. It was then that I decided that I wanted to go further in examining the never-ending relationship between art and religion. I had my mind set on going to Europe – Florence or Turin specifically – and going into depth on the exchange between art and religion throughout the Renaissance up to the present. I even started learning Italian.

However, it was around this time when news broke of the discovery of thousands of remains at residential schools, which, made me question what I was doing in a significant way. The Catholic Church was largely responsible, along with many others, for these horrors. After learning about this terrible news, I could not reconcile the fact that I was about to devote my life to the study of religious art based in Catholicism, while the same Catholic church actively participated in cultural genocide. It was a wake-up call. I realized that too much time and effort has been put into classical and Renaissance art, and I didn’t want to be part of that tradition.

I began researching how Indigenous cultures in Canada represent, interpret, and express their spirituality in ways that are far removed from Judeo-Christian spiritual practices. While doing this research, I felt in myself a desire to right the wrongs of the past. Rather than reinforcing the supremacy of one tradition, I wanted to learn about another so that I could help in preserving and disseminating it. Many had fought for centuries to preserve and pass down the rich, cultural legacy of Indigenous spirituality, despite the unyielding forces opposed to it and I wanted to participate in understanding it as much as I could.

When I entered the Master of Fine Arts program at Waterloo University, I sought out Dr. Patrick Bouvier, who identifies as Metis and researches storytelling practices unique to Indigenous cultures. Dr. Bouvier was kind enough to help me define my research interests, given my art history background, and it was through him that I found out that the boundaries between Christian and native spirituality are fluid and that many Metis incorporate Christian practices into their ceremonies.

I also became aware that Indigenous spirituality, by its nature, escapes definition and contextualization. It is less about holy texts, churches, and congregations and more a way of life, a way of understanding your relationships with nature, people, and the past. Even the term, “Indigenous spirituality” is problematic, given the poor job it does of relaying the complex beliefs of First Nations peoples.

Through Dr. Bouvier’s mentorship and guidance, I became acquainted with this school’s Indigenous Studies program. One of the aspects of this graduate program that stood out for me was that it was the first of its kind in North America, created with the input and guidance of First Nations representatives. The immersive aspect also intrigued me, as the program embraces the central role played by the environment and hands-on learning in Indigenous culture. I am eager to experience these traditional knowledge concepts and bond with the Elders who make themselves available to students in the tradition of Indigenous pedagogy. The fact that there are almost no programs or fields that marry traditional art history studies with Indigenous culture means that there is a dire need for further exploration, which is what I hope to achieve when I complete my PhD.

“Tell Me About Yourself” PhD Interview Sample Answer #2

I recently graduated from the Autonomous University of Sinaloa with a master’s degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics, where I presented a thesis on the life of stars (their birth, existence, and death) that questioned formation theories and examined the role of the cold dark matter model in classifying new stars.

The stars and universe have always fascinated me, ever since I was a boy growing up in Mexico City. In the capital, you don’t see a lot of stars. It’s for the same reasons that people living in large cities cannot see more than a few stars at a time: light and air pollution. I could never imagine that one day I would see a night sky blanketed with stars – as many stars in the sky as there are grains of sand on a beach. But it happened one night.

I remember when I was ten – I remember very clearly how old I was because this experience shaped me forever – I left the city to go visit my relatives in Oaxaca, which is very far from the Distrito Federal. It was the first time I left the city, and it was a long journey. But during the last few hours of the trip, we drove through the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range.

I was mesmerized. At such a high elevation, so far from the city, the sky lit up with stars. That beautiful sight sparked more than just awe; it made me ponder my relation to time as well. That’s why I remember how old I was because, in that moment, I said to myself, “I am ten years old now, but will I remember this when I am twenty, thirty.

The “tell me about yourself” PhD interview question is nothing to fear, provided you prepare. Once you have your answer, your preparation should also involve mock interviews so that you can become comfortable with the format, time your answer, and make adjustments. You can reach out to PhD admission consultant s to help you practice because they have the most experience with the “tell me about yourself” PhD interview.

If you feel that you need some graduate school application help to guide you in the interview, or any part of the application process, don’t hesitate. But following the steps in this article can also help you in crafting an authentic response. When you do have an answer prepared, try rehearsing a few key points so that you know how to move your story along. You should practice reading it out loud to be comfortable with the material, but don’t go through the effort of memorizing lines, as this will make you seem inauthentic.

Interviewers ask this question as an icebreaker to ease the pressure and put interviewees at ease. But it also serves the real purpose of getting a candidate to talk about themselves and how their experiences (both academic and non-academic) have shaped their academic interests.

You can answer the “tell me about yourself” question by telling a personal story of how you ended up at this interview. You can also start by talking about your present if you’re a recent grad or about what you want to achieve. The key is to create an easy-to-follow narrative that showcases what prepared you for the program you’re applying to.

You can practice beforehand and time yourself, keeping your answer to around the two-minute mark to avoid incoherence and rambling.

Do not talk about personal stories unrelated to your academic pursuits. You can certainly incorporate hobbies, passion projects, or general interests outside of academia, but try to weave all these elements of your personality into a convincing portrait of you as a PhD candidate. Also, avoid mentioning anything you are uncomfortable talking about later in the interview. For example, if you are uncomfortable discussing your family background, do not bring it up in the ‘tell me about yourself’ answer because the admissions committee might ask follow-up questions about it.

PhD and postdoc interview questions can broach a number of topics, from asking about your professional ambitions to how you would apply for funding. Be prepared for personal and field-related questions; they will make up the bulk of your interview.

You can practice your answer in front of a trusted colleague, mentor, or grad school advisor to get worthwhile feedback. We strongly encourage the use of mock interviews to get the best results. Your advisor, whoever they are, can provide tips and constructive criticism on how to improve your answer or where it excels.

The answer is supposed to come from you and your personal experiences, so you should brainstorm and prepare your answer personally. While advisors and consultants can help you shape it and improve the delivery, only you can tell your own story.

Every graduate school and every program have their own program-specific requirements, but the average requirements include a specific GPA,, a specific GRE score, and supporting documentation like a statement of purpose and letters of recommendation .

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions, get started now.

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webinar:

How to make your grad school application stand out, (and avoid the top 5 mistakes that get most rejected).

Time Sensitive. Limited Spots Available:

We guarantee you'll get into grad school or you don't pay.

Swipe up to see a great offer!

Get Dream Job

If You Are A PhD, Then You Need This 21-Point Interview Presentation Checklist

Written by Amruta Agharkar

I got my first industry job through networking .

I worked there for more than 1.5 years, but realized I wanted something more challenging.

So, I started applying for jobs but didn’t really get anywhere.

As advised by the Cheeky Scientist Association, I started networking and doing informational interviews while simultaneously applying for open positions.

Soon, I got a notification for a position that I had applied for and they offered me a phone interview.

Since no one in this company knew me, how I interviewed was extremely important.

It was really the first impression I would make on the people at this company.

To prepare for the interview , I knew I needed to highlight my transferable skills and demonstrate how my goals align with the company’s core values and mission.

I also knew I needed to practice, practice, practice!

This company’s interview process had 3 parts.

My first call was with a recruiter who asked me questions such as:

Tell me about yourself.
Why do you want to work for this company?
Do you have experience in XYZ?
Are you willing to relocate?
Have you worked in a fast-paced environment?
How do you like to communicate with colleagues?

At the end, the recruiter said that she would like to set up a Skype call between me and the hiring manager.

Yes! Part 1 complete!

My Skype call with the hiring manager was filled with both technical and behavioral questions, which I was ready to answer.

It went well and within 2 hours, they invited me to an on-site interview!

Part 2 complete!

To learn more about what the company was looking for in the onsite presentation, I reached out to the hiring manager to see if they had any insights to offer.

From this request, the hiring manager was kind enough to offer to have a call with me to discuss her expectations and what she wanted to see in my presentation.

Now that I knew exactly what they wanted, I started to prepare like crazy.

I would be giving a 50-minute presentation followed by 1:1 interviews with 11 people from cross-functional teams.

I worked really hard on the presentation to make sure I conveyed what they wanted to hear, that I highlighted my transferable skills, and that I made it clear why I am a good fit for the company.

The day of the interview, my presentation went really well!

All my preparations had paid off and I felt very positive after meeting the team.

Part 3 was complete, and now I just had to wait!

Within a week, I received an email from a recruiter asking for my references.

I had them ready.

And, about a week later, I got the job offer!

My extreme preparations for the onsite interview presentation were essential to my getting this job offer.

Why Only The Best Candidates Get An Onsite Interview

The competition to get hired in industry is fierce.

But, as a PhD, you are a top job candidate .

You just have to know how to set yourself apart and communicate your value, because getting to the interview stage is hard.

And, now is a great time to be on the hunt for a job.

According to a recent report by CNBC , for the first time in nearly 20 years, there are more job openings than people who are unemployed.

There are 6.7 million job opening and 6.4 million people looking for work.

Now, only a very small percentage of those 6.7 million will be competing directly against you, but that still leaves lots of competition.

Most companies receive hundreds of applications for a single position, while larger companies can receive thousands.

For example, Fast Company reported that in one year, Tesla received nearly 500,000 applications.

Submitting an application or getting a referral to hand your resume to the hiring manager is the very top of the hiring funnel and it narrows very quickly.

No matter how many job applications are submitted, a company will only call about a dozen applicants for the initial phone screen or video interview.

And, at the end of the funnel, there will only be 2-3 candidates given the opportunity for an onsite interview.

That means that if you get to this onsite interview stage, you will have already beat out hundreds or thousands of other applicants.

Companies are picky about who they bring out to a site interview because this is when hiring starts to get expensive.

On average, it costs a company about $4,000 to hire a new person, and much of that expense is incurred during the site visit, according to the Society for Human Resource Management .

A company is investing in you by bringing you out for a site visit , so the pressure is on.

You are so close to getting hired if you’ve been offered a site interview, so now is the time to dig in and give it everything you’ve got.

21-Point Checklist For PhDs To Give The Best Industry Interview Presentation

Before your presentation, call and find out what type of presentation the company wants you to give.

Ask what you should talk about and who will be there.

Don’t be scared to ask about the topic of the presentation or afraid you will look silly by asking.

The reality is that you will look ridiculous if you prepare a presentation of your research, but they wanted you to do a presentation about one of their products.

Always ask for clarification.

And, once you know what they want, it’s time to prepare.

Here is a 21-point checklist for PhDs preparing for an industry interview presentation…

1. Know your audience and tailor your talk to them.

Are you presenting to scientists, non-scientists, or a mixed audience?

Do they have a background in what you will be presenting?

Are they who you will work with, or are they supervisors?

It is key to know who you are presenting to so that you can tailor the content and delivery of your presentation appropriately.

2. Understand the purpose of your presentation.

What does the company want to learn about you from this presentation?

There are a few purposes for interview presentations.

1. Presenting your research

2. Pitching one of their products

3. Presenting about yourself

But, beyond these broad topics, it’s also important to figure out what they are looking for in the presentation in terms of skills that you have and to make sure you cover those items.

3. Know the one thing you want them to remember from your presentation.

Most people will only remember one thing from a presentation.

So, think about what this should be.

Do you want them to remember a particular result you had in your research?

Do you want them to remember that you are really awesome at a particular skill?

Or, something else?

Once you figure this out, make sure that it is clearly communicated.

4. Talk, don’t read.

Do not read what is on your slide.

This is awful.

And boring.

And a waste of slide space.

Use your slides to show things that are hard to describe with words, such as data or images.

This will keep the audience’s attention much better than a wordy slide that you are reading to them.

They know how to read, you don’t have to do it for them.

5. Practice your presentation out loud.

Just saying your presentation to yourself in your head is not enough practice.

For an interview , you need to be at your very best.

Think about how much you prepared for your thesis defense presentation and apply that level of effort.

That is how you will impress your potential employer and get hired.

6. Set the context of your research.

In academia, we tend to become hyper-focused on our specific area of expertise.

When giving your interview presentation, you need to realize that your audience does not have the same background as you.

They need you to provide context for your research.

Ask yourself, “Why should these people care about my project?” and then use that to set the stage.

7. Don’t overwhelm the audience with too much data.

Yes, you have spent the last 5-7 years researching the same project and you have lots of data.

Do not show all this data in your interview.

Less is more.

Choose the most important, most impactful, and most relevant data, and show only that.

8. Monitor your breathing.

Are your breaths shallow?

Are you breathing quickly, or very rarely?

Practice taking slow and deep breaths as you give your presentation.

This will calm your nerves and make you appear more confident.

9. Don’t brag, but connect to the audience through failures and how you overcame them.

The main purpose of your interview is to persuade your potential employer that they should hire you.

You need to demonstrate that you are competent without sounding arrogant.

A great way to do this, is to talk about the minor failures within a project and how you overcame them to achieve the desired result.

This makes you seem both relatable and skillful.

10. Link your project to the company’s focus.

Always bring the focus back to the company you are interviewing with.

Do your research beforehand to figure out how you can connect your research to the company’s focus in a meaningful way.

This could be highlighting a product of theirs that was essential to your project, or demonstrating how the overall goals are similar.

You want to show that you are invested in the company and this is a great way to do that.

11. Have a slide that introduces you in a fun way.

Again, remember that the main point of this interview presentation is to convince your potential employer to hire you.

So, tell them a little bit about yourself with your presentation.

What do you like to do, besides work?

Adding in some fun details will make you more relatable and likeable, which will increase you chances of getting hired.

12. Vary the speed of your speech.

The main reason people sound monotonous is because they don’t change the speed of their speech.

Talking at the same pace for your whole presentation is boring.

Don’t talk too fast, but make sure there is variety.

Slowing down when making a key point is a good way to make sure you do this and to allow your listener to have time to grasp the concept you are making.

13. Spark interest through emotion and sensory details.

Let’s be honest, research can be dry.

Like… really dry.

So, spice up the story to keep your listeners’ attention by describing things with sensory details.

This will allow the audience to visualize what you are talking about.

Also, talk about the emotions involved in what you are presenting, as this will keep the audience invested in your story.

14. Use lots of white space on your slides.

Your slides need to be aesthetically pleasing.

This means simple and clean, with lots of white space .

A presentation that is packed with words and data is distracting for the audience.

A clean and focused slide allows you to maintain the audience’s focus on the important information and prevents them from looking at parts of the slide that you have not explained yet.

15. Check your spelling.

This always needs to be addressed.

Spelling and grammatical errors make you look sloppy — and no one wants to hire sloppy.

Use more than just the default spell check.

Read over your presentation a few days after you have created it, or have a friend look it over for mistakes.

16. Use only one font.

Use only one font and don’t use a weird font.

Stick to those tried and true fonts, such as Arial and Calibri.

Basically, you don’t want the audience to notice your font.

Keep it basic and keep their attention focused on the information.

17. Spend about 1 minute on each slide.

As a general guideline, when creating your presentation, know that you will spend about 1 minute on each slide.

So, if you are required to give a 15-minute presentation, you should have about 15 slides.

This guide will help you prepare and should help keep you on track for time when you are giving the presentation.

18. Use high quality images.

Pixelated or stretched images are distracting.

Only use high quality images of your data.

If you are using a picture to help make a point, again, make sure this is high quality, and also remember attribution.

Demonstrate your understanding of this by either using attribution-free images or by citing the source for your images.

19. Address the required technical skills for the position.

If you are not sure what parts of your research to present, choose data that was acquired using the technical skills the company is looking for in a job candidate.

Your interview presentation is a valuable opportunity to physically show your potential employer that you have the required skills.

You are not just telling them you have these skills, you are showing them data you produced using a specific technique.

Don’t ignore the importance of highlighting your relevant technical skills.

20. Include examples of you using transferable skills.

Just like you did with your technical skills, your interview presentation gives you the opportunity to show how you have used your important transferable skills .

Are they looking for a leader?

Then talk about a project where you led and managed others to achieve the result.

Are they looking for high-level problem-solving skills?

Then, discuss how you had to work through problems during your project.

Show them you have the right transferable skills and would make an awesome employee.

21. Tell an engaging story.

No matter what you are talking about, the bottom line is that you need to tell an engaging story.

If your audience is bored or disconnected from what you are saying, you can kiss the job goodbye.

Practice your presentation a lot so that, when delivering it, you can focus on being engaging and not on trying to remember what to say.

Just think about all the boring talks you have sat through and try not to do that.

If you have made it to the interview presentation stage, then you are one of the final few top candidates. So, this interview is the time to push further and prove that you are the best person for the job. This means extensively preparing for the interview presentation. Outlined here, are 21 things that you should prepare for leading up to your presentation, so that you can “wow” your potential employer and get hired. As always, after the presentation, follow up with thank-you notes and convey your excitement. An interview presentation is tough, stressful, and takes hard work — but, if you do it right, you will get hired.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

Hi, I'm Isaiah Hankel, PhD

I am CEO of Cheeky Scientist, the world's premier career training platform for PhDs. If you want free insights on resumes, LinkedIn, interviewing, careers and more, just enter your details below.

Get Free Job Search Content Weekly *

Free insights into industry resumes, interview questions and top careers for PhDs.

ABOUT AMRUTA AGHARKAR

Amruta Agharkar PhD, is an experienced scientist with 4+ years of industry experience specializing in pharmaceutical formulation, development, and analysis of dosage forms. She has over four years of experience as a product development and formulation scientist working in collaborative environments.

5 Interview Questions PhDs Always Get (and 5 Questions They Should Ask Employers)

By: isaiah hankel, phd.

By the time I started my industry job search, I was desperate. I was nearing the end of my PhD and my proverbial plate had never felt so full. Between final experiments, last drafts, and defense presentations, I had dedicated virtually no time to my job search. The little effort and time I was able put into it felt very arbitrary and unfocused I wasn’t even sure what job I wanted. All I knew was that I needed a job – and fast. Needless to say, when I finally did find myself seated in front of a hiring manager, I…

How PhDs Can Avoid The Overqualified Label To Get Hired

“We regret to inform you that we will not be moving forward with your application due to concerns that your qualifications exceed those required for the role. We feel it would not be a good fit. Thank you for applying.” Oof, that’s part of a rejection email a PhD sent me. An employer had sent it to them after the first interview. Another PhD told me this recently… “I feel like I’m both overqualified and underqualified for the jobs I apply to Isaiah.” Which do you feel is more of a problem for you? I asked. “At first I thought…

How To Answer “Why Are You Leaving Academia?” (& 4 Scientific Ways To Convince Employers To Hire You)

“‘Why do you want to work here more than anywhere else? And why are you leaving academia?’ Those are the questions I got stuck on, Isaiah. I told them why I liked their company, mainly because it was aligned with my values, but I also wanted to be fair and ethical so I told them that I was considering other companies. Then I explained that academia was no longer a good fit because I wanted to do more than write grants all day.” “Okay, I replied, anything else? What did you say after that?” “I asked them a few clarifying…

Should You Apply To More Than One Job At A Company? (& 3 Other Tough Job Search Questions Answered)

“Isaiah, I applied to ThermoFisher two weeks ago and a hiring manager got in touch with me and I had my first interview…. But then a second hiring manager reached out to me about another job I applied to there. I started talking to this second manager and they asked if I applied to any other positions there. I couldn’t lie so I told them about the other job and the other hiring manager. Now, neither of the hiring managers will get back to me. What should I do?” This is what a PhD told me over the phone last…

How LinkedIn Ranks Job Seekers With PhDs, EdDs & Other Degrees

“Be real Isaiah, there’s not a government bureau keeping track of how our resumes perform.” This is what a frustrated job seeker said to me recently. “What do you mean I have a reputation score?” they asked. “Of course there’s not a bureau dedicated to this, at least not yet” I said. “But you absolutely are being scored and ranked” I went on, “and your ranking is used to indicate how reputable you are as a job seeker.” This is what I’ve explained to countless people looking for a job in today’s job market, most of whom were getting initial…

How The Academic PhD Job Market Was Destroyed

“I spent over a year looking for a job in academia and flew to multiple interviews. I didn’t get one offer.” A PhD told me this recently and many other PhDs have told me similar stories. Of course, the stories involve more than just looking for a job for a year. They involve living on a meager academic budget, trying to support themselves and their families, often in very expensive cities where many of the biggest universities are located. They involve decisions to never go on a vacation, to feed their kids cheaper, less healthy food, and to work all…

Give Yourself The Gift Of Leaving Academia Forever

My last year in academia, I didn’t have enough money to fly home for Christmas. So I spent it in Iowa City, mostly alone. I was broke (of course) so I decided to shovel snow out of driveways for $10 per driveway. I remember thinking how ridiculous it was to be a PhD shoveling snow for money. “What I wouldn’t give to have a better job”, I thought. That was the gift I wanted for Christmas and the holidays. A better job. Not to be a student or a postdoc or an academic PhD getting paid less than I was…

The Ideal Keyword Density For Targeting Your PhD Resume To An Industry Job Posting

Writing a resume for an industry job is one of the biggest sticking points I see with PhDs entering the job market. What worked even a year ago is not working today due to recent and rapidly accelerating advances in Applicant Tracking Systems. These systems, called ATS or just AI today, are software tools used by companies to filter resumes. They scan for specific keywords related to the job role, abilities, credentials, and qualities desired in a candidate. As a PhD seeking very competitive roles, including relevant keywords in your resume is essential to pass through these systems and get…

AI Is Replacing Recruiters. Here’s How PhD Job Seekers Should Adapt

“I had a recruiter reach out to me, Isaiah, and after I gave them my resume and answered their questions, they never got back to me. What should I do?” I hear this a lot. I also hear, “Isaiah, I was on the phone with a recruiter and as soon as they heard that I needed a visa, they hung up” …”or as soon as they heard I had no industry experience, they hung up.” Man, I personally hate this. What a waste of time. The recruitment industry is broken. The good news is its being devoured by Artificial Intelligence,…

Top Industry Career eBooks

63 Best Industry Positions For PhDs

Isaiah hankel, phd & arunodoy sur, phd.

Learn about the best 63 industry careers for PhDs (regardless of your academic background). In this eBook, you will gain insight into the most popular, highest-paying jobs for PhDs – all of which will allow you to do meaningful work AND get paid well for it.

Industry Resume Guide for PhDs

Isaiah hankel, phd.

Learn how to craft the perfect industry resume to attract employers. In this eBook for PhDs, you will get access to proven resume templates, learn how to structure your bullet points, and discover which keywords industry employers want to see most on PhD resumes.

AI & ATS Resume Filters

Isaiah hankel.

In today's competitive job market, understanding the impact of AI is crucial for career success. This involves ensuring your resume stands out in the digital realm, mastering your online presence, and being aware of how AI assigns reputation scores. Discovering how to leverage AI to your advantage is essential, as it plays a pivotal role in shaping professional opportunities.

Complete LinkedIn Guide For PhDs

The LinkedIn tips & strategies within have helped PhDs from every background get hired into top industry careers.

Ready To Start Getting Job Offers?

Fill Out Our Job Search Strategy Survey

We have helped thousands of people land their dream job

How to Prepare for a PhD Interview

So, you’ve been invited for a PhD interview. Congratulations! This means that the admission committee considers you appropriately qualified and academically capable of doing a PhD in their program. This next step will allow them to determine if you’re a good fit, and you have the motivation and drive to complete a PhD. The interview is your opportunity to show the committee who you are, what your interests are, why their program is the right place for you to explore them.

There are many different formats for a PhD interview and varying degrees of formality. You may have a one-on-one interview with your potential supervisor over Skype, a formal interview in front of a panel, be asked to give a presentation to the department, or an informal chat with your potential supervisor and their students over lunch. Regardless of the level of formality, you should still do your homework and prepare for the interview. You cannot predict the specifics of the questions that they will ask you, but certain topics are almost inevitable.

Here are some ways to prepare for your interview:

Review your research proposal or statement of purpose. The interviewer will likely make reference to it during the interview. Go over the experiences that have prepared you for a PhD and be ready to give specific examples during the interview. Be able to explain the reasons why you applied to this program in particular.
Be prepared to talk about your research interests in detail. You likely gave an overview in your proposal or statement of purpose, but the interview is your chance to show that you have put some thought into what you wrote. Show that you have the required background knowledge, including knowledge of the key people in your research area, methodologies you plan to use, or studies you want to reference.
Think about your motivation for pursuing a PhD. The interviewers want to know you have put some thought into the decision to pursue a PhD. They also want to gauge your commitment to the project before they invest time and money in you. Think about how a PhD will help you achieve your career goals.
Read your potential supervisor’s work. This shows you are serious about working with them. Demonstrate why you want to work with them in particular and how their expertise will be essential to your research. If you are interviewing for a small program, familiarize yourself with the work (or at least the fields of expertise) of the other faculty members.
Familiarize yourself with current scholarship in the field. This is another way to demonstrate your engagement with field and that you can think critically about the current debates. You should know how your proposed research will fit into the current scholarship and what makes it unique.

Remember that this interview goes both ways. You are preparing to spend at least three years (likely more) of your life here. Think about what is important to you and what would make or break your decision to attend this university. Come to the interview prepared with some questions for the interviewer. Potential questions could include:

What do they do to promote work/life balance?
What can your potential mentor/supervisor do to advance your career?
How does your potential supervisor mentor students?
What is the program’s job placement record?
What sort of resources does the university have? (Libraries, lab equipment etc.)
What are their funding sources?
What is the program’s average time to degree?
Will I have the opportunity to teach/present/patent/publish?

If your interview is taking place on-campus or you are invited to visit the campus after being accepted, take the opportunity to talk to some of the current grad students. They will offer you a frank take on the program and the inside scoop on what it’s like to work with your potential supervisor. Also, consider the fact that you will be spending a considerable amount of time around these people for the next few years. Will you fit in with them as a friend and colleague? How social is the department? Do they do activities together outside of the university? Do they seem supportive of each other, or are they competitive? This information will help inform your decision.

A Note on the Skype Interview

Skype interviews are becoming increasingly common, especially for international students. There are a few practical tips to keep in mind when setting up for an online interview. Do your interview somewhere where you have a strong internet connection, usually at home or in a quiet office. If you have roommates, make sure they are aware of when your interview is and understand not to disturb you during the interview. Choose your location carefully. You want a well-lit area with a tidy, neutral background. If possible, face a natural light source. Place your computer on top of a pile of books so that the camera is almost at eye level (a more natural angle). Look at the camera when you speak to make “eye contact” with the interviewer.

The interview is your time to shine, and being prepared will allow you to do just that.

Discover related jobs

Discover similar employers

Accelerate your academic career

How to Be a Career-Minded PhD Student

At the start of your PhD the job market might be the furthest thing from...

“Academic Positions helped me find the right PhD project.”

Oldouz will soon be starting her PhD in sustainability pathways and chal...

Dutch Academic Job Titles Explained

What's the difference between a universitair docent and a hoogleraar? Wh...

PhD, Postdoc, and Professor Salaries in the Netherlands

Interested in working in the Netherlands? Here's how much PhD students, ...

PhD, Postdoc, and Professor Salaries in France

France has a strong academic tradition and is committed to investing in ...

German Academic Job Titles Explained

German job titles are slightly different from their American equivalents...

Jobs by field

Electrical Engineering 184
Machine Learning 171
Programming Languages 159
Artificial Intelligence 154
Molecular Biology 136
Electronics 129
Mechanical Engineering 121
Materials Engineering 117
Cell Biology 110
Engineering Physics 96

Jobs by type

Postdoc 337
Assistant / Associate Professor 123
Research assistant 97
Researcher 95
Professor 94
Engineer 80
Lecturer / Senior Lecturer 76
Management / Leadership 47
Tenure Track 31

Jobs by country

Belgium 328
Netherlands 125
Morocco 125
Switzerland 121
Luxembourg 69

Jobs by employer

Mohammed VI Polytechnic Unive... 129
KU Leuven 125
Ghent University 84
University of Luxembourg 68
ETH Zürich 63
KTH Royal Institute of Techno... 52
Eindhoven University of Techn... 35
Karolinska Institutet 34
University of Twente 33

How to Prepare for a PhD Interview Step-by-Step

By ProFellow Founder, Dr. Vicki Johnson

If you received an interview invitation for a PhD program, congratulations! This is a huge accomplishment. Your application and CV stood out among many others who did not make it to this stage. But how do you prepare for what’s next–your graduate school interview?

Avoid Triggering These 3 “Red Flags”

A good way to understand how you can stand out among top finalists is to understand the “red flags” that PhD selection committees are looking for at this stage. Interviews are used to determine:

#1 Are you committed to a career in research?

PhD programs do not want to invest their limited funding into candidates who have motives other than the pursuit of a career in research and academia, because PhD programs are essentially years of training in the conduct of academic research. Your motive for pursuing a PhD will either support or discredit the hypothesis that you have the drive and aptitude to successfully complete a rigorous, long-term, independent research project (aka, your dissertation).

#2 Will you fit within the culture of the graduate program?

Unfortunately, PhD programs have historically poor records in achieving diversity, equity and inclusion in their student body; nevertheless, their assessment of your culture fit in the student body is a reality (read Inside Graduate Admissions: Merit, Diversity, and Faculty Gatekeeping by Julie R. Posselt). Because academic institutions are hierarchical organizations, selection committees look for clues of extreme viewpoints, arrogance, questioning of “authority”, previous conflicts with employers or professors, and other hints as to whether you might challenge or ruffle the feathers of the program’s faculty and administrators. Not surprisingly, they aim to select people who will be “model students” and will support the research and teaching goals of the faculty. That said, this interview process is not a one-way street. While they are assessing your ability to be a successful student in their program, you’ll need to determine if the program and faculty will provide you the space and support you need to succeed, while also letting you be yourself.

#3 Do you have advanced fluency in written and verbal English?

Many foreign applicants submit written applications and writing samples that are impressive and grammatically perfect. However, international students who do not have advanced English fluency – both written and verbal – have a higher likelihood of falling behind in PhD programs. For foreign applicants, the selection committee will use an interview to assess how well you understand and communicate in English in real-time.

Now that we have those “red flags” identified, here some suggestions to help you prepare for your PhD interview.

Top 3 Tips to Prepare for Your PhD Interview

#1 show passion for academic research.

It’s important to discuss your interest in academic research specifically, not just your interest in the subject or discipline, practice-based work or the industry. Selection committees are looking for students who can successfully undertake a 4-6 year commitment to learning about and conducting academic research. You should show them you are someone who “geeks out” about research – the methods, the process, the writing – and that you are someone who has the potential to make a social impact through your research.

#2 Come prepared with detailed examples of your research experience

Be ready to go deep on the details of your previous research experience, including your involvement in aspects like participant recruitment, forming a research question, choosing a research method, overcoming challenges of research, addressing ethics in research, analyzing data and writing up results. You don’t need to be highly experienced in research to be a strong candidate, but to show authentic passion for research, you should be very familiar with the mechanics of it.

#3 Have specific reasons for why THIS program

Be armed with reasons why the PhD program you are interviewing for is unique and interesting for you. Each school will have aspects of their program that they believe makes them different, whether that is the coursework, curriculum format, focus areas, faculty, special programming, labs, international opportunities, academic and private partnerships, or something else. Do your research and be prepared to tell them what they already know – why their program is special.

The interview is a big step in your journey towards achieving a graduate degree. The ProFellow community is rooting for you – best of luck!

If you want to learn more about PhD funding, get your copy of ProFellow’s FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !

If you want to learn more about phd interviews, check out….

6 Top Interview Questions and How to Answer Them – Part 1 6 Top Interview Questions and How to Answer Them – Part 2 5 Strategies to Nail the Interview 3 Ways to Answer “What is Your Greatest Weakness?” in an Interview Stumped in an Interview? Three Tips to Remain Cool and Composed

Dr. Vicki Johnson is Founder and CEO of ProFellow, the world’s leading online resource for professional and academic fellowships. She is a four-time fellow, top Ph.D. scholar, Fulbright recipient and an award-winning social entrepreneur. She is the Creator and Director of Fully Funded , an award-winning online course and mentorship program for graduate school applicants seeking to find and win full funding.

#9: Nailing the Individual and Group Interviews
3 Key Steps to Prepare for Interviews for Fellowship, Job and Graduate School
5 Things To Do Before Your Fellowship Interview
How to Manage Fellowship Interview Anxiety (and Nail the Interview)
5 Ways to Prepare for a Fellowship Interview

Dr. Vicki Johnson , Graduate School Application Tips , Interview Tips , PhD Application Tips

A Rural Alaskan on His Schwarzman Scholars Experience in China

12 fellowships and grants for emerging writers, find and win paid, competitive fellowships.

Be alerted about new fellowship calls for applications, get insider application tips, and learn about fully funded PhD and graduate programs

Fellowship Resources

Calls for Applications
Upcoming Fellowship Deadlines
Fellowships Database
Interviews with Fellows
International Fellows Network
Graduate Funding Directory

Fellowship Tips

What is a Fellowship?
Fully Funded Course
Graduate School Funding
Fellowship Application Tips
Fulbright Application Tips
Fellowship Application Guide
Our Mission, History & Values
ProFellow Winner Testimonials
Fully Funded Course Testimonials
Fellowship Industry Report
Advertise With Us
Terms & Privacy

ProFellow is the go-to source for information on professional and academic fellowships, created by fellows for aspiring fellows.

PhD Interview Questions and Answers (13 Questions + Answers)

Most PhD applications include an interview. This allows your university (and perhaps even your prospective supervisor) to discuss the PhD with you in more detail.

This article lists some of the most common PhD interview questions along with their answers. The goal is to help you prepare for a PhD interview and pass with flying colors.

1) How did you develop this proposal?

When responding to this question, demonstrate your thought process, research skills, and the evolution of your ideas. Let's choose the subject of "Renewable Energy Integration in Urban Planning" as an example.

Sample answer:

"My proposal on 'Renewable Energy Integration in Urban Planning' originated from my undergraduate thesis on sustainable cities. Intrigued by the potential of renewable energy in urban environments, I conducted a literature review to identify gaps in current research. This review highlighted a lack of comprehensive strategies for integrating renewable technologies at a city-wide level. I then consulted with experts in urban planning and renewable energy, which provided practical insights into the challenges and opportunities in this field. I designed a methodology that combines spatial analysis with energy modeling to explore optimal renewable energy integration in urban landscapes. This proposal represents an amalgamation of academic research, expert consultation, and innovative methodology development."

This answer is effective because it mentions a literature review demonstrates the ability to conduct thorough research and identify gaps in existing knowledge.

2) Why do you wish to pursue a PhD?

For this question, it's important to articulate your passion for the subject, your long-term career goals, and how the PhD program aligns with these aspects.

Let's choose the subject of "Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare" for this example.

"I am passionate about leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes, and pursuing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare aligns perfectly with this passion. During my Master's, I was fascinated by the potential of AI to revolutionize diagnostic processes and personalized medicine. I believe a PhD will provide me with the deep technical knowledge and research skills necessary to contribute significantly to this field. My goal is to develop AI systems that enhance medical diagnostics, ultimately improving patient care and treatment efficiency. This PhD program, known for its pioneering research in AI and strong healthcare collaborations, is the ideal environment for me to develop these innovations and achieve my career aspirations in healthcare technology."

This is a great answer because you clearly state that the PhD will provide the necessary skills and knowledge, indicating a clear understanding of the purpose of the program.

3) Why do you think you are the right candidate for this PhD program?

Discuss how your research interests align with the program's strengths and the faculty's expertise. Explain how the program's resources, courses, and research opportunities can help you achieve your academic and career goals.

"I am deeply passionate about environmental science, particularly in the area of sustainable urban development. This passion was ignited during my master's program in Environmental Studies at XYZ University, where I completed a thesis on urban green spaces and their impact on city microclimates. This research not only honed my skills in data analysis and GIS mapping but also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to environmental issues. I am drawn to your PhD program at ABC University because of its innovative research on sustainable urban planning and the renowned work of Professor Jane Smith in this field. Her research aligns with my interest in integrating green infrastructure into urban planning to mitigate climate change effects. My perseverance, attention to detail, and ability to synthesize complex data make me an ideal candidate for this challenging program. Pursuing this PhD is integral to my goal of becoming an environmental consultant, where I plan to develop strategies for cities to reduce their environmental footprint."

This response is effective because it mentions particular aspects of your experience and the program, avoiding generic statements. It also outlines how the PhD fits into your career path.

4) What do you plan to do after you have completed your PhD?

Be specific about the type of career you aspire to, whether it's in academia, industry, research, etc. Explain how the PhD will equip you with the skills and knowledge for your chosen career path.

"After completing my PhD in Computational Neuroscience, I plan to pursue a career in academia as a university professor. My doctoral research on neural network modeling will provide a strong foundation for teaching and conducting further research in this area. I aim to develop innovative courses that bridge computer science and neuroscience, addressing the growing demand for interdisciplinary knowledge in these fields. Additionally, I intend to continue my research on applying machine learning techniques to understand brain function, which has potential implications for developing new treatments for neurological disorders. This academic pathway allows me to contribute significantly to both education and research in Computational Neuroscience."

This is a great answer because it connects the PhD research directly to future career plans.

It also articulates how your work can impact both academia and the broader field of Computational Neuroscience.

5) Why have you chosen this specific PhD program?

Mention specific aspects of the program that attracted you, such as the curriculum, research facilities, faculty expertise, or reputation.

Explain how the program aligns with your research interests or academic background.

"I chose the PhD program in Artificial Intelligence at MIT because of its cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary approach, which perfectly aligns with my academic background in computer science and my passion for machine learning. The program's emphasis on both theoretical foundations and practical applications in AI is particularly appealing. Additionally, the opportunity to work under the guidance of Professor [Name], whose work in [specific area, e.g., neural networks or AI ethics] has deeply influenced my own research interests, is a significant draw. This program is an ideal fit for me to further develop my skills and contribute to the field of AI, ultimately aiming for a career in AI research and development in the tech industry."

This answer connects your background and goals to the program's offerings.

Including a specific professor's name shows detailed knowledge about the program and faculty.

6) What impact would you like your PhD project to have?

When answering this question, convey both the academic significance and the potential real-world applications of your research. Let's choose a project focused on developing eco-friendly battery technologies for electric vehicles for this example.

"My PhD project aims to develop new eco-friendly battery technologies for electric vehicles (EVs), addressing both the environmental impact of battery production and the efficiency of energy storage. I hope my research will contribute to the academic field by advancing our understanding of sustainable materials for energy storage, potentially leading to publications and patents. Beyond academia, I envision this project significantly impacting the EV industry by providing a more sustainable and efficient battery alternative. This innovation could play a crucial role in reducing the carbon footprint of transportation and supporting global efforts towards a greener future. Ultimately, I aspire for my work to not only advance scientific knowledge but also drive real-world changes in how we approach energy sustainability in transportation."

This is an excellent answer because it connects the project to larger environmental goals and societal benefits. It also reflects a forward-thinking approach, demonstrating your understanding of the project's potential long-term implications.

7) What difficulties would you expect to encounter during this project?

It's important to demonstrate awareness of potential challenges and convey a proactive mindset toward problem-solving. Let's choose a project focused on the development of a novel AI-driven diagnostic tool for early detection of neurological diseases for this example.

"In developing an AI-driven diagnostic tool for early detection of neurological diseases, I anticipate several challenges. Firstly, the accuracy and reliability of the tool depend heavily on the quality and diversity of the data used for training the AI algorithms. Obtaining a comprehensive dataset that adequately represents the population can be difficult due to privacy concerns and data availability. Secondly, ensuring the AI model's interpretability to be clinically useful while maintaining high performance is another challenge, given the complexity of neurological diseases. To address these, I plan to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including data privacy experts and neurologists, to source and utilize data ethically and effectively. I also intend to continuously refine the AI model, focusing on both its predictive accuracy and clinical applicability. These challenges, while significant, present valuable opportunities for innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration."

This response is effective because it clearly outlines realistic challenges specific to the AI diagnostic tool project. It also presents a proactive approach to overcoming these challenges, showing problem-solving skills.

8) How will you fund this project?

When answering this question, show that you've thought about the financial aspects of your research and are aware of funding sources that are available and applicable to your project.

"I have identified multiple funding sources to support my renewable energy research project at Stanford University. Firstly, I plan to apply for the DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program, which offers substantial support for projects focusing on sustainable energy. My proposal for this grant is already in progress, highlighting how my project aligns with the DOE's priorities in advancing clean energy technologies. Additionally, I'm exploring departmental fellowships at Stanford, particularly those aimed at renewable energy research. I am also keen on establishing industry partnerships, given the project's relevance to current energy challenges and the potential for collaborative funding and technological exchange. Last but not least, I will seek conference grants to present my research findings, which can lead to further academic collaborations and additional funding opportunities."

Notice how this answer mentions funding sources that align with the renewable energy focus of the project and the resources available at Stanford University.

9) Tell us about a time you experienced a setback

Focus on a situation relevant to your academic or research experience. Let's use a real-world example where a research experiment failed due to unexpected variables.

"During my Master’s thesis on the effects of soil composition on plant growth, I faced a major setback. My initial experiments, which involved growing plants in different soil types, failed to produce consistent results due to unanticipated environmental variations in the greenhouse. This was disheartening, especially as the deadline approached. However, I responded by reassessing my experimental setup. I consulted with my supervisor and decided to control more variables, such as humidity and temperature. I also refined my data collection methods to include more frequent soil and plant measurements. These adjustments led to more reliable results, and I successfully completed my thesis. This experience taught me the importance of adaptability in research and reinforced the value of meticulous experimental design."

This is a great answer because it shows how you’ve encountered and overcame a specific problem, demonstrating resilience and adaptability.

10) What are your strengths and weaknesses?

When answering this question, it's important to present a balanced view of yourself, showing self-awareness and a commitment to personal development. Choose strengths that are relevant to a PhD program and weaknesses that you're actively working to improve.

"One of my key strengths is my analytical thinking, which I demonstrated during my Master's project where I developed a novel algorithm for data analysis. This required me to not only understand complex theories but also apply them creatively to solve real-world problems. As for weaknesses, I sometimes struggle with overcommitment, taking on too many projects at once. This occasionally led to stress during my undergraduate studies. However, I am actively working on this by improving my time management skills and learning to prioritize tasks more effectively. I've started using project management tools and setting clear boundaries, which has already shown improvements in my workflow and stress levels."

This answer maintains a good balance between strengths and weaknesses. It also shows self-awareness, demonstrating a proactive approach to personal development.

11) Why have you chosen to study for a PhD at this university?

Mention specific aspects of the PhD program that attracted you. Explain how your research interests align with the work being done at the university.

"I am drawn to the PhD program in Astrophysics at Caltech due to its outstanding reputation in space research and the unparalleled resources available at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory. My research interest lies in the study of exoplanets, and Caltech's active projects in this area, such as the Zwicky Transient Facility, align perfectly with my academic goals. The opportunity to work under the guidance of Professor [Name], known for pioneering work in exoplanetary atmospheres, is particularly exciting. Additionally, Caltech's collaborative environment and emphasis on interdisciplinary research are conducive to my professional growth, providing a platform to engage with experts from various fields in astrophysics."

This response directly connects your research interests with ongoing projects and facilities at Caltech. It also shows you’ve done your research on faculty members and their work.

12) What can you bring to this research group?

Focus on your unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that will contribute to the research group's success. Let's choose the field of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University for this example.

"As a prospective member of the Biomedical Engineering research group at Johns Hopkins University, I bring a unique combination of skills and experiences. My expertise in microfluidics, honed during my Master’s research, aligns well with the group’s focus on developing lab-on-a-chip devices for medical diagnostics. I have also co-authored two papers in this field, demonstrating my ability to contribute to high-impact research. Additionally, my experience in a start-up environment, where I worked on developing portable diagnostic tools, has equipped me with a practical understanding of translating research into applications. I thrive in collaborative settings, often bringing interdisciplinary insights that foster innovative problem-solving. I am excited about the prospect of contributing to the group’s ongoing projects and introducing fresh perspectives to advance our understanding and application of biomedical technology."

This response shows your relevant expertise, ability to work in a team, and the unique perspectives you can offer, positioning you as a valuable addition to the research group.

13) Do you have any questions for us?

Asking good questions demonstrates your motivation. It also shows that you’ve given some genuine consideration to the project and/or program you’re applying to.

Some questions you can ask the interviewer include:

What will the supervision arrangements be for the project?
What kind of training and skills sessions are offered as part of the PhD program?
How many other PhD students has this supervisor seen to completion?
Are there any major developments or partnerships planned for the department?
Are there likely to be any changes to the funding arrangements for the project?
What opportunities will I have for presenting my research?

What to wear to a PhD interview

Wear formal attire for a PhD interview. Your best bet is to wear a suit. A navy blue suit is the best and most versatile option. No matter your gender, a suit is always very professional.

For men, wear a suit with a tie, dress shirt, and dress shoes. For women, wear a suit (pantsuit or skirt suit) with a blouse, or conservative dress, and closed-toe shoes.

When in doubt, it’s better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed. The goal is to make a professional impression and feel confident, without your attire distracting from the conversation.

What to expect from a PhD interview

At its core, a PhD interview will consist of questions that allow your potential supervisors to get to know you better and have an understanding of what you’d like to study, why you’ve chosen your field of study, and whether you’d be a good fit for the PhD program.

You should expect general questions to help the interviewer get a sense of your likes and dislikes, and your overall personality.

Next, expect questions about your personal motivations for studying a PhD. Your interviewer will also be interested in any relevant experience you have to qualify you to study this PhD.

In the next section, expect questions about your PhD project. You should be prepared to discuss your project idea in detail and demonstrate to the interviewer that you are the ideal candidate.

Last but not least, the interviewer will discuss your future ambitions and give you an opportunity to ask questions. Remember that this interview goes both ways.

It’s important to ask the interviewer relevant questions to show your engagement and the serious consideration you are giving their program.

You are preparing to spend several years of your life at this school. Think about what is important to you and what would make or break your decision to attend this university.

Prepare a list of questions ahead of the interview.

Understanding the interviewer’s point of view

During a PhD interview, interviewers are typically looking for a range of traits that indicate whether you are well-suited for the rigors of a doctoral program and a research career.

These traits include:

Intellectual Curiosity and Passion: A strong enthusiasm for the subject area and a desire to contribute to and expand knowledge in the field.

Research Skills and Experience: Demonstrable skills in conducting research, including designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and interpreting results. Prior research experience relevant to the PhD topic is often a plus.

Resilience and Perseverance: The capacity to handle setbacks and challenges, which are common in research, and to persist in the face of difficulties.

Collaboration and Teamwork: Although PhD research can be quite independent, the ability to work well with others, including advisors, faculty, and other students, is crucial.

Self-Motivation and Independence: The drive to work independently, manage one's own project, and stay motivated over the long term.

Fit with the Program: Alignment of the candidate’s research interests and goals with the strengths and focus of the PhD program and faculty.

These traits not only indicate your readiness for a PhD program but also your potential to contribute meaningfully to their field of study and succeed in a research-oriented career.

University Interview Questions (16 Questions + Answers)
Project Manager Interview Questions (14 Specific Questions + Answers)
Strength-Based Interview Questions (21 Questions + Answers)
Engineering Interview Questions (15 Questions + Answers)
Business Analyst Interview Questions (17 Questions + Answers)

Reference this article:

About The Author

PracticalPie.com is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Youtube Facebook Instagram X/Twitter

Psychology Resources

Developmental

Personality

Relationships

Psychologists

Serial Killers

Psychology Tests

Personality Quiz

Memory Test

Depression test

Type A/B Personality Test

Create moving, zooming presentations that grab attention and keep it.

Appear right alongside your content while presenting to your audience.

Make stunning interactive charts, reports, maps, infographics, and more.

You're about to create your best presentation ever

Phd Interview Presentation Template

PhD Interview Presentation

Transcript: Interview for PhD position at University of Paris Academic Background Academic Background - High School Degree in Mathematics Chounen High School, 2016 - Bachelor Degree in Physics University of Djelfa, 2016-2019 - Master Degree in Astrophysics University of Constantine 1, 2019-2021 Courses Highlights M1 Courses First year of master degree Fundamental astronomy Astronomical data processing Interstellar medium computational physics general relativity Particle physics Courses Highlights M2 Courses Second year of master degree Standard model Astroparticle physics High-Energy Astrophysics Cosmic Rays Nuclear Astrophysics Vision Experience in data analysis Experience in correlation research Experience in scientific writing Experience in Python programming and Basic ML knowledge Why would I fit for this program Research Experience Research DRAFT Paper Algorithms Here are few algorithms used in my previous works correlation finder D'Agostni Fitting ML Algorithms Machine Learning Algorithms Support Vector Machines K-Nearest Neighbors Decision Trees Future Goals To do learn and develop machine learning algorithms for the search of neutrino-gamma correlations and analyze its data. Approach: - benefit from my previous experience -benefit from the AHE group -learn advanced machine/deep learning techniques THANK YOU

Transcript: Interview for PhD position at Utrecht University About Me! I am a Yemeni, lived 20 years in Malaysia. My interest has always revolved around giving back to either society and the planet. I am currently finialisng my Masters thesis at Radboud University, and also interning at a chemical manufaturing company. About Me Academic Background Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance, specialising in risk management and investment, - Asia Pacific University, 2014 - 2018 Pre-Masters in Environment and Society - Radboud University, 2021 - 2022 Master’s degree in Global Environment and Sustainability - Radboud University, 2022 - 2023 Academic Background Professional Background Professional Background Treasury Trainee; 2018 - 2019 skills: Financial Analysis and Risk management Sustainability Intern; 2020 - 2021 skills: Stakeholder Engagement and compliance Student Assitant (Quantitative methods); 2022 - 2023 skills: Literature Review, reporting and Data Analysis CSR & QHSE trainee; 2023 - 2023 skills: Communication and Collaboration, chemical and material science and solution based strategies Research Experience Research Bakgroynd Relevant research Research that are relevant Life cycle assessment on Radboud's greenhouse; 2022 - 2023 Operating bed covers and heat mattresses; 2022 - 2023 Master's Thesis; How are green and blue hydrogen are framed in European Media?; 2022 - 2023 Intenrship report: Map out waste streams and idetitfy opporunties of reuse and recycle; 2023- 2023 Master Thesis An indepth look into my master's thesis How has hydrogen technology been framed in European media between 2018 and 2023? What frames surrounding blue and green hydrogen technology emerged in European media? • Who are the key actors involved in shaping the narrative around blue and green hydrogen technology in media discourse, and how do they form coalitions? • How have broader societal and environmental concerns influence the framing of hydrogen technology, and what factors have contributed to its legitimacy? Why this topic? Motivations - Blue and green hydrogen as emerging technologies with potential to play a role in the transition to a low-carbon future. - Lack of research on how blue and green hydrogen are framed in the media. - Importance of raising public awareness of benefits and challenges of blue and green hydrogen. Theories Theories and Methodologies - Framing Theory by Gamson & Modigliani (1989) - Discourse Coalition by Hajer 2006 -->Technology legitmacy - Qualitative - Media Analysis + Two mode network - Atlas ti Methodologies Result My Candidancy Why I fit for this progam • Research background • Interdisciplinary skills • Methodological expertise • Passion for sustainability • Communication skills • Postdoctoral position • Energy sector • Knowledge exchange • Long term vision Future Goals My future goals

Transcript: Interview for PhD position at Maastricht University Academic Background - BS in Computer Engineering (IT branch) Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, 2013-2017 - MS Degree in Computer Engineering Bilkent University, 2019-2022 Academic Background BS Courses Highlights Artificial Intelligence Decision Support and Expert Systems Database Systems Discrete Mathematics BS Courses MS Courses Highlights MS Courses Machine Learning Deep Learning Computer Vision Computational Geometry Parallel Computing Research Experience Research Applying Information Retrieval Paradigms in NL to SQL Translation Conditional text generation for query recommendation Explaining multi-class classification results TranSQLate MS Thesis improve the accuracy by 16.5% Learning with additional feratures Transformers DRAFT Paper Data Scientist 1001Epochs Work Experience Used LLMs to paraphrase Question-Answering model using Langchain Similarity search Vision Experience in data analysis Experience in correlation research Experience in scientific writing Experience in Python programming and Basic ML knowledge Why would I fit for this program Trustworthy Explainiability, Transparency, Traceability Trustworthy Conversational AI Scale Blending skills personality, knowledge, empathy Generation strategies beam search, next token sampling, and n-gram blocking Conversational AI Future Goals To do learn and develop machine learning algorithms for improving the quality of chatbots and Conversational AI Approach: - benefit from my previous experience -benefit from the great research envirnment at UM -learn advanced machine/deep learning techniques THANK YOU

PhD Interview Presentation Template

Transcript: Why I Have Applied for a PhD Program Project 2 Overview Diving into [Project Name], I delved into [brief description of the research questions]. The methods utilized, such as [mention specific methods], led to [highlight significant outcomes]. This project enhanced my expertise in [mention relevant skills or knowledge areas]. Mostafa Gharbawi Dissertation project: Synchronisation of Heterogeneous Oscillators in Power Networks Introduction: Unveiling My Academic Journey With a background in [mention field], I am deeply passionate about [add specific research interests]. Through my academic journey, I have honed my skills in [mention relevant skills] and aim to make impactful contributions to the field of [mention field]. A Stable Power Network: Aim: Online integration of renewables into the grid, Eliminating environmental impacts. Challenges: Operational and inertial dissimilarity, system instability, Asynchronisation and frequency disturbance, Uncertainty in availability of natural resources. Prepared for the Next Chapter Personal Background: Studied Engineering Mathematics, Skillful in data modeling, Worked on numerous group projects, Helped my employer to increase revenue, Highly receptive, enthusiastic, and discipline. Envisioned Power Network: Project 1 Overview Solutions: Conventional power network model, Kuramoto model. Results: Synchronisation and stability equivalence, Quantifying network connectivity, Synchronous parametric conditions. Future work: Feasible synchronisation conditions, Locally merging green generators. Involvement in Other Group Projects Automation of Manual Tasks Early Prediction of Sepsis Disease Objective: Service Quality, End-user experience. Tools: Challenges: Data pre-processing, Missing clinical records, Effective approach. Binary Probabilistic Classification: Maximum a Posteriori method, Naive Bayes Theorem. Outcome: Reduced completion time to 20%, Streamlined journal process, Improved invoicing quality. Why Am I the Ideal Candidate for This Project? My educational background, Possess genuine passion for this field, Result-driven and pragmatic in approach, Responsible for my own academic development, Believe in AI as a tool for the betterment of humanity. Assignment Using MAP: Skills Acquired: Data quality assurance, Coding reproducibility, Collaboration & improvement, Interpersonal & communication. Final Results: THANK YOU FOR LISTENING Improved input data Increased success rate from 45-60% Any questions? [email protected]

Transcript: Interview for PhD position at University of Antwerp Academic Background Academic Background High School Degree Exchange student in Canada for 6 months Master Degree in Physics Federal University of Pernambuco PhD in Physics Federal University of Penambuco Graduation in Physics Federal University of Pernambuco 2017-2019 2013 2020-2022 2022-2026 Courses Highlights Classical Electrodynamics Quantum Theory Statistical Mechanics Quantum Optics Master Courses Courses Highlights PhD Courses Advanced Classical Mechanics Computational Physics Magnetic Properties of Structures Advanced Classical Electrodynamics (ongoing) Teaching experience Experience teaching physics High School Teacher Colégio Fernando Ferrari High School Teacher Colégio Imaculado Coração de Maria Substitute Professor Federal University of Pernambuco Contract Professor Faculty of Igarassu 2021 2021 - 2023 2020 2023 High School Teacher National Commercial Apprenticeship Service - Senac 2023 Prizes Useful skills Checklist Experience using Latex for scientific writing Experience solving Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamic simulation Data analysis using OriginPro and Gnuplot Experience using OOMMF and Mumax3 for simulation of magnetic reversal and FMR Programming skills using Bash Script, C, Octave and Python Research Research Experience Algorithms Some previous algorithms Monte Carlo Molecular Dynamic Mumax3 + Bash Results a) b) c) d) Draft Paper Dipolar magnetic interactions in 3x3 arrays of rectangular Ni nanopillars Simulations of FMR for study the shape anisotropy in square hollow nanopillars Effects of the packing factor on magnetic anisotropy in a 3x3 array of square hollow Ni nanopillars Simulated FMR to study in plane magnetic anisotropy of 3x3 array constituted by square base nickel nanopillars Future Goals Learn Density Functional Theory 01 Using DFT to find magnetic parameters Calculations using VASP 02 Learn and use VASP in simulations Improve my scientific writing skills 03 04 Objectives Study and enhance my knowledge to publish more scientific papers Contribute with my expertise and proactivity Use my previous experiences to contribute to my fellow's work and keep a good labor environment Questions? ?

Transcript: PhD Interview Presentation Safety and Sustainability in Bio-based Composites' Structural Design Another point Remember to break up your words so your audience can follow. Academic Background Master's in Architecture, Building, and Planning (Eindhoven University of Technology) Specialization: Architectural Urban Design and Technology Thesis: Sustainable design of detached houses for extended Danish families Bachelor in Architecture (Sadjad University of Technology) Key Courses: Strength of Materials, Building Materials, Statics Willow Technologies, Ghana Source: Paul Yakubu. "Willow Technologies Transforms Agricultural By-Products Into Building Materials in Ghana" 28 Jul 2023. ArchDaily. Accessed 1 Jun 2024. <https://www.archdaily.com/1004645/willow-technologies-transforms-agricultural-by-products-into-building-materials-in-ghana> ISSN 0719-8884 Thank you for your time and consideration Skills and Competencies Technical Skills: Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk Revit Rhinoceros 3D Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) Python SQL SPSS Introduction Hasti Serajahmadi MSc in Architecture, Building, and Planning specializing in Architectural Urban Design and Technology BSc in Architecture Professional Experience Internship at UArchitects (May 2022 – Oct 2022) Collaborated on sustainable design projects and competitions such as MICROHOME Junior Architect/Assistant at Jam Silica Processing Company (Sept 2020 – Aug 2021)

PhD interview Presentation

Transcript: Input: Literature review Existing data sets Qualitative & quantitative data collected from case study regions Outputs: Create spatial framework Model various land use scenarios using framework at different spatio-temporal scales Present future scenarios in social ecological political contexts Glastir Woodland Creation Opportunities Phase 1 habitat map Project methodology Broadleaf woodland habitat network - Forest Research Various indexes: % cover, No. of patches, total edge, core area. Distribution of welsh woodland is spatially correlated rather than random and governed by topography, hydrology and land use (agriculture/plantation) Conifer plantations - highly correlated, broadleaf woodlands - less clustered Europe - percentage tree cover Ancient Woodland Inventory (2011) Northern forest Land cover thresholds (Forest Research) Peri-urban forest Afforestation - "50 million new trees" Urban/industrial and post-industrial landscape Shadows path of east-west M62 Biodiversity offsetting - masking woodland losses elsewhere? Only £5.7 million from Government from a projected total of £500 million Centre for Ecology and Hydrology - Land cover map 2015 Where can we see some of these drivers playing out in a UK context? Revive absent ecological processes Increase habitat connectivity. Core zones and buffer zones. Land already committed through NGO partners and public forest. Big change is bringing farmers onboard Precedents set by Pontbren project and MWT Pumlumon project (PES) Work on adapting commons concept Summit to Sea/O’r Mynydd i’r Môr Northern Forest Policy instruments Forest products markets Forest cultures Value of competing land uses Innovation - tech & skill Land abandonment Biodiversity - habitat protection Topography/Hydrology Thank you! Diolch yn fawr! Scale - at what spatio-temporal resolutions? Mapping between models and real world - applying landscape thresholds to random and actual landscapes. Modelling resilient, robust woodlands. "Crowded future landscapes" - competing land uses - woodland emergence within hostile matrix of intensive land use - disruption of open habitat networks. Interplay between spatial analysis and social research. Ethical dimension - respect for present landuse practice and social/cultural importance of this. Place spatial analysis within complex social ecological economic, politcal context. Before Adam Thorogood Summit to Sea Case studies 2016 Wales forest extent, loss & gain Land use change on a large scale involving multiple partners. Passive vs. Active afforestation National Forest Summit to Sea - terrestrial and marine, upland, agricultural Northern Forest - built environment, infrastruture, peri-urban National Forest - 28 years into project, peri-urban, afforestation Borders Forest Trust - Carrifran Wildwood, upland afforestation Knepp Castle - estate, ex-arable/dairy land, process-led wilding Trees for life - Scottish highlands, restore Caledonian forest Mersey Forest - community-led, partnership, peri-urban "Emerging spaces for native woodland growth in Britain's crowded future landscapes." Operationalising future planing PhD Interview presentation Adam Thorogood 10th Aug 2018 Useful Datasets What are the drivers and constraints for increase or decrease in forest cover? Trees for Life Slovenia forest extent, loss & gain Phase 1 habitat survey Ancient Woodland Inventory Glastir woodland creation opportunities Agricultural data sets - IBERS Sentinel 2 satellite data UK forest extent, loss & gain

Transcript: EDUCATION EXPERIENCE SKILLS RESEARCH PLAN [email protected] EXPERIENCE 2014-2020 2014-2020 Faculty Member | Instructor Islamic Azad University of Fariman 2016-2017 2016-2017 Islamic Azad University of Mashhad 2006-2014 2006-2014 Islamic Azad University of Bam EDUCATION Publications Ph.D. B.Sc. M.Sc. M.Sc. Bachelor's Degree Skilled gained: Master's Degree Skills gained: Thesis focus: Ph.D. Thesis: Thesis focus: Ph.D. Degree Publication Master's thesis: Master's Degree (Second M.S.) Course projects: Thesis focus: RESEARCH PLAN MANAGERIAL Language Skills Mother tongue (s) Other language (s) Language 1 Language 2 Language 1 Language 2 Language 3 Other Skills Name your Skills Skills description: Skills proficiency: Skill 1 Skill 2 Skill 3 TECHNICAL Name your Skills Skills description: Skills proficiency: Skill 1 Skill 2 Skill 3 COMPUTER Name your Skills Skills description: ARTISTIC RESEARCH PLAN MANAGERIAL Language Skills Mother tongue (s) Other language (s) Language 1 Language 2 Language 1 Language 2 Language 3 Other Skills Name your Skills Skills description: Skills proficiency: Skill 1 Skill 2 Skill 3 TECHNICAL Name your Skills Skills description: Skills proficiency: Skill 1 Skill 2 Skill 3 COMPUTER Name your Skills Skills description: ARTISTIC

Explore our templates for more presentation inspiration

Training - EDU

Description: A well-organized training presentation template is a critical tool for education professionals. From roadmaps to reviews, this training template will help you take your next EDU training presentation to the top of the class.

Easy Globe Templates for Stunning Presentations | Prezi

Description: For grant requests, program proposals, or any other nonprofit or education presentation, this globe-themed creative Prezi template is the way to generate interest and momentum. Like all Prezi education templates and Prezi nonprofit templates, it’s easy to customize.

Best Executive Presentation Template to Customize | Prezi

Description: Show the big picture, zoom in on details, and explain clearly how it all relates with this Prezi executive brief or Prezi nonprofit template. The lively image and bold colors make it easy to create compelling, engaging executive brief or nonprofit presentations.

Lesson Plan - Board

Description: A well-organized lesson plan is the difference between getting things done and things getting out of hand. This vibrant, customizable, easy-to-use Prezi presentation template features a sticky note theme, so you'll be able to keep track of topics, assignments, exams, and more without missing a beat.

Now you can make any subject more engaging and memorable

The Science
Conversational Presenting
For Business
For Education
Testimonials
Presentation Gallery
Video Gallery
Design Gallery
Our Customers
Company Information
Prezi Support
Prezi Classic Support
Hire an Expert
Cookie Settings
Data Visualization
Infographics

May 31, 2024

May 24, 2024

May 22, 2024

Latest posts

+44 (0) 207 391 9037
UCAS personal statements
Oxbridge Personal Statements
Specialist Personal Statements
Postgraduate Applications
Services for Education Agencies
Personal Statements
Professional
Specialist Applications

Key PhD Interview Questions (And How to Answer Them)

12th October 2023

Speak right now to our live team of English staff

Embarking on a PhD is a significant step in your academic journey, and the interview process is a crucial part of securing a place in your chosen programme. Being well-prepared for the questions that may arise during a PhD interview can help you present yourself confidently and increase your chances of success. In this post, we’ll explore some key PhD interview questions and offer tips on how to answer them effectively.

Can you explain your research proposal in detail?

This is likely to be one of the first questions you’ll be asked, and it’s your chance to showcase your research interests and the significance of your proposed study. Be sure to articulate your research question clearly, explain the methodology you plan to use, and highlight the potential contribution of your research to the field. Avoid using overly technical language and try to convey your enthusiasm for the project.

Why do you want to pursue a PhD?

This question aims to assess your motivation for undertaking a PhD. Be honest and reflective in your response, explaining how your academic background, research interests, and career goals align with the programme. Show that you have a clear understanding of the commitment required and are prepared for the challenges of a PhD.

What relevant experience do you have?

Highlight any previous research experience, publications, or relevant work experience that demonstrates your suitability for the programme. Be specific about your role and the skills you developed, and explain how these experiences have prepared you for the challenges of a PhD.

How did you develop your research proposal?

This question aims to assess your research skills and the thought process behind your proposal. Discuss how you identified a research gap, formulated your research question, and designed your methodology. Be prepared to explain any challenges you encountered and how you overcame them.

How do you plan to manage your time and workload during your PhD?

Time management is a crucial skill for PhD students, who often juggle multiple responsibilities. Discuss any strategies you have for staying organised, prioritising tasks, and maintaining a work-life balance. Show that you have a realistic understanding of the demands of a PhD and have thought about how to manage them effectively.

What are your strengths and weaknesses as a researcher?

Reflect on your skills and experiences as a researcher and be honest about areas where you may need to improve. Highlight any strengths that are particularly relevant to your proposed research and discuss how you plan to address any weaknesses.

How do you handle criticism and feedback?

Being receptive to feedback and willing to learn from it is an essential trait for any researcher. Discuss how you have dealt with criticism in the past and explain how you use it to improve your work. Show that you are open to different perspectives and can adapt your approach when necessary.

Answer Your PhD Interview Questions With Confidence

Preparing for a PhD interview requires careful reflection on your research proposal, experiences, and motivations. By anticipating the questions that may arise and thinking through your responses, you can present yourself confidently and make a strong impression on the interview panel.

A compelling personal statement is key to nailing your PhD interview – if you need support, we are here to provide personalised guidance, helping you articulate your strengths, experiences in your statement, and motivations in a way that resonates with admissions panels. Contact us today to elevate your application and take a confident step towards your academic aspirations.

Crafting a Standout CV Personal Statement: Expert Tips and Examples

Common Admission Interview Questions

How to Prepare for an Admissions Interview

Advice for STEM PhD interviews and common questions

PhD interviews are part of almost every PhD application process, and they are an opportunity for you to get to know the faculty of the institution/university you’re applying to, and to demonstrate your potential to embark on a research project. This blog post provides examples of some of the most common interview questions, and advice on how to prepare a presentation on either a research project you’ve done (e.g. during an internship, bachelor’s thesis, or a master’s programme). I am currently doing a PhD at Oxford in Genomic Medicine and Statistics, and I applied to several biomedical science, biochemistry, and genetics PhD programmes in the UK in 2022 - below are questions taken from interviews at Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College.

At the start of the interview, you will often be asked warm-up questions such as “tell us about yourself in 2 minutes”, “why do you want to do a PhD?”, “what experiences have you had that could help you during a PhD?”, and “what makes you different compared to other candidates?”. It’s a good idea to brainstorm answers to these questions in advance, which should help to calm your nerves, and help you communicate to the panel why you’d make a great PhD student on their programme.

Often PhD programmes will ask you to present a previous research project for 5-10 minutes, either with or without slides. If they ask you to make slides, they will often specify the maximum number of slides: keep to the slide count, but you can use animations. Your slides should be simple and uncluttered and don’t have anything on your slides that you don’t talk about. Make sure you explain enough background so that someone from a general science background can understand you - your interviewers are very unlikely to have experience in your current field. Furthermore, explain why you are doing/did specific experiments or made particular choices - this needs to come before the “how”. You can end with the implications of your findings and why they are important, along with possible future directions for your work. Practice the presentation in front of friends, family, and members of your current research group if you have the opportunity, and if your interview is over Zoom, it’s a good idea to have a rehearsal with a friend to make sure you’re as confident as possible for the real thing.

Your interviewers are very likely to ask you some questions about this presentation. They may ask why your experimental setup is a good model for what you’re investigating, what previous findings your work relies on, what other labs are doing research in your current field, or what is new in your current/previous research field(s). They may also ask how you ensure that you generate high-quality data, what your controls were (positive and negative), or how a particular technique you used works. Another interesting question I was asked at one of my PhD interviews was “what would you include in a grant based on your current findings?”. Alongside these technical questions, your interviewers may ask what you found challenging in your project, and what you enjoyed the most. One of the best things to get across in your answers to these questions is how they have prepared you for a PhD - how did they help you become more resilient, acquire problem-solving skills, or learn a particularly useful technique?

Aside from your scientific abilities, they may also want to know what you do outside the lab for work-life balance, how you deal with any conflict in the lab, and what you’re looking for in an ideal PhD supervisor. The interviewers also often ask students to tell them about a time you failed or troubleshooted, alongside “what are you doing to work on your weaknesses?”. The purpose of these questions is to find out whether you’re prepared for the challenges that arise during a PhD.

Some PhD programmes will send you a paper in advance of the interview to present to them. If this is the case for you, it’s a good idea to present the knowledge gap this paper was trying to fill, how they solved it, and what this means. They may also ask what you liked/didn’t like about the paper, whether the authors make unsupported claims in the discussion, and what further work could be done to build on the findings.

Interviews often end with the panel asking whether you have any questions for them - remember, this is your opportunity to see if the programme is a good fit for you! Examples of questions you could ask are: “what surprises PhD students when they start a PhD?”, “are there opportunities for teaching?”, and “what do you like about working here as a group leader?”.

I hope this information was useful, and further information can be found on the Find a PhD website 🔗 and the YouTube channels of Dr Andy Stapleton 🔗, Hira Javaid 🔗 and Dr Amina Yonis 🔗.

How To Prepare for a PhD Interview

Katie Baker
September 26, 2023

So, you’ve written your personal statement, you’ve sent through your application and now you’ve been invited to a PhD interview, the first step is to congratulate yourself; only 30 – 50% of PhD applicants make it through to the initial interview stage. The invitation is a sure-fire sign the admissions team were impressed by your academic track record, essays, research proposals and personal statement, but you aren’t out of the woods and in the door just yet.

PhD interviews are conducted by universities to discuss the PhD program or your research proposal with you in more detail. You can also expect to be asked questions about your academic background, skills, and career goals. By asking these questions, university admissions teams will assess whether you are capable enough to carry out doctoral research. With enough preparation, your PhD interview doesn’t need to be daunting.

To help you prepare for your interview, this page will outline advice on how to prepare for a PhD interview and give you an insight into what typically happens at PhD interviews. However, it is worth bearing in mind that each university interviews its potential PhD candidates differently.

Along with following the advice outlined here, you will also want to ensure you have a good idea of what to expect from your interview. For example, some university boards will ask you to do a short presentation; others will only ask you questions based on your research proposal and other application materials that spurred them to pick up the phone and invite you to elaborate on your application.

Know What To Expect From a PhD Interview

Even though PhD interview questions can vary significantly from institution to institution, depending on the circumstances of your PhD application or be formulated specifically around your subject area, every interview serves the same purpose.

So while it is difficult to give you an idea of a standard PhD interview format, the principle is the same; you will be discussing the finer details of your research proposal or your academic background if you are applying for a program with pre-determined aims and objectives.

Formal interviews will put you in front of a postgraduate recruitment panel, potentially comprising admission tutors and PhD supervisors; on the other end of the spectrum, you could be asked to meet your potential supervisor for lunch or in a coffee shop on campus to discuss your research interests. Some universities even choose to include orientation activities in the initial interview process; this will give you the chance to explore the research facilities and meet staff members and peers.

Whichever setting your interview takes place in, and whoever is present, remember that the focus will always be on your achievements, academic interests, and goals.

PhD Interview Presentations

If a PhD interview presentation is required, you will be informed by the university well in advance to allow you to prepare. Your prospective department will also outline their expectations for the presentation, including how long it should be, what needs to be covered, and how it should be delivered.

Typically, PhD interview presentations should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete, be delivered via PowerPoint and cover your academic achievements and background, research methods and the impact of your research. However, for students interviewing for advertised positions, there may be a requirement to give a short presentation on a specified topic related to your field.

How Long Does a PhD Interview Take?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer for how long a PhD interview takes; the duration depends on the format, how quickly you provide the information that the postgraduate recruitment panel and several other factors.

With some interviews, you should block out an entire day in your calendar as the university may invite you to meet the recruitment panel in the morning, have lunch on campus, explore the department, and have your formal interview afterwards. With others, you can expect to meet your future supervisor and speak with them for an hour over coffee. Whichever interview format you are invited to, remember you’ll be doing the degree be prepared to make the most of it!

row of students sitting on a bench waiting next to eachother

PhD Interviews for Advertised Positions

Most STEM PhD programs come with pre-defined aims, usually part of a research program with broader research objectives; your doctoral research will contribute to the body of research. Furthermore, many advertised PhD projects will also have secure funding. With these kinds of positions, all applicants must prove via their interviews that they can carry out the research to a high standard and prove they deserve the secured funding or studentship.

For example, imagine a particular PhD degree involving the analysis of a particular protein. Being a talented and competent life scientist can get you the interview, but exhibiting your knowledge of the specific proteins and familiarity with the techniques and equipment you need to run your analytical research will seal you the position. You don’t need to be an expert; you need to prove your capacity to become an expert – given the chance.

With advertised positions, the interviews are typically more formal, and the main component will comprise a question-and-answer session where you will be in front of a qualified postgraduate recruitment panel involving three or more people, including project supervisors, postgrad admissions staff, lead investigators and funding reps.

The panel will focus on your research goals and interests and how they correlate to your academic background. You may also be expected to expand on sections of your application which need more clarification.

It isn’t heard of for interviewers to ask you to give a specific presentation in addition to answering questions. However, this presentation shouldn’t be too long or complex. Alternatively, you may be asked to cover your research proposal in more intricate detail or summarise previous research projects.

At the end of the interview, you will get the opportunity to ask your own questions; prepare some in advance; this will show your interest and enthusiasm, and you will also gain clarification that the program is right for you.

PhD Interviews for Self-Proposed Research Proposals

If you have applied for a position with a self-proposed research proposal, the interview will differ from the interviews for students hoping to complete doctoral research with pre-defined objectives.

With self-proposed research proposals, you won’t only need to prove your competency, but you will also need to prove the value and originality of your project. Once accepted, you will have freedom over the research you conduct – to a certain extent – however, you will still gain access to similar levels of support, training and resources.

Even though you have to defend your research proposal, these interviews are typically more flexible and relaxed; you won’t have the pressure of competing for secured funding or affirming why you deserve studentship above other applicants. However, you will face just as much scrutiny as students competing for advertised positions as you will need to confidently convey that the project is viable in terms of time, methodology, and facilities available at the university.

It is more likely that interviews for students proposing their own research will be more casual; don’t take this as an indication that they are any less important. The postgraduate research panel or your potential supervisor will still need confirmation that you have the right skills and knowledge to go in-depth with research in their field.

Taking on a new doctoral candidate is a big multi-year commitment for PhD supervisors; you will want to assure them it is worth their time. Typically, this process will include going through points already illustrated in your proposal and expanding on uncovered areas. If funding is on the cards, it will be allocated on a merit basis; with this in mind, elaborate on the value of your project.

How to Prepare for a PhD Interview

Regardless of how your interview is conducted, you will still need to speak about your research proposal and previous work and experience. Spend ample time reviewing your former essays, considering your previous feedback, and going over your proposal with a fine-tooth comb. You should always be prepared to defend any claims you have made with evidence and examples.

During the interview, expect the academic work carried out in your bachelor’s and master’s degrees to be brought up. The merits of them won’t seal your acceptance offer, but discussing your academic background can exhibit your enthusiasm and show how your interest in your research topic developed.

In addition to re-reading your work, take the time to familiarise yourself with the current or recent research carried out by your supervisor. This familiarity will prove that you will relish the opportunity to work with them. If you aren’t sure who your PhD supervisor will be, review the research carried out in the department.

The lack of originality in research proposals is one of the main reasons for PhD application rejections, which typically happens before the interview stage. However, during your PhD interview, you will also need to verify, if you have self-proposed your own research, that you have investigated the field to ensure your thesis will be completely original.

For PhD projects with pre-set aims, never overlook any of the details of the program. Beyond reviewing the objectives, take an interest in who will be involved, clue yourself in about external funders, and note the available development and training.

Practice doesn’t only mean perfect; it also means you are committed, capable and confident. Enlist the help of your current academic contacts and peers while practising your interview or presentation material. This is especially important if you don’t have much experience with public speaking or giving presentations.

What To Wear and Bring to a PhD Interview?

Appearance isn’t everything in a PhD interview, but it can go a long way for potential candidates wanting to make the best first impression. Even though academics don’t typically share a similar wardrobe with CEOs during their average workdays, you should present yourself how you would if you were attending a job interview for your dream job.

The PhD admissions team will inform you if you need to bring anything specific to your interview, such as a presentation. However, if it makes you feel more comfortable and prepared, you can bring hard copies of your previous essays or dissertations, which you can re-read or reference where appropriate. It may also be beneficial to bring a hard copy of your research proposal if you submitted one.

A notepad and pen will also help you to take notes after you have asked your questions at the end of the interview. Remember, like a job interview, a PhD interview will assess your suitability for the university and the suitability of the university for you. Doctoral research is a big commitment; you will want to ensure that the institution is right for you; your initial interview may be your only chance to explore the campus and meet the staff.

Do You Get Paid for a PhD?

Do You Get Paid for a PhD? For many students who don’t have the luxury of never worrying about money, one of the main considerations

Where Can a PhD in Finance Take Me?

Where Can a PhD in Finance Take Me? In the dynamic world of finance, a PhD is not just an academic accolade; it’s a launchpad

Blonde woman wearing a blue jumper drinking a coffee while deciding to study a PhD in London

Should I Do a PhD in London?

Should I Do a PhD in London? Embarking on a PhD journey is a significant decision, one that shapes your academic and professional future. Once

Enquire with us

We are here to help and to make your journey to UWS London as smooth as possible. Please use the relevant button below to enquiry about a course you would like to apply, or to clarify any questions you may have about us and our admission’s process. After you submit your enquiry, one of our advisers will get back to you as soon as possible.

Motivation , Research toolkit

PhD interview is a crucial part of the admission process. To help you prepare, we’ve put together a list of the best PhD interview questions! Check it out!

How do you get admitted to a graduate school? In most cases, there are at least two stages. In the first stage, you need to make an official application to your grad school and answer their questions. Then, in the second step, you may be invited for a PhD interview during which a panel, usually comprising your supervisory team, will be asking you interview questions.

If you want to become a successful PhD student, you really need to nail these PhD interview questions and use this interview as an opportunity to showcase your motivation and dedication to your academic career.

I know there is quite a lot of confusion about what PhD interview looks like and what are common PhD interview questions. Are you wondering how to prepare for a PhD interview? Let me share what I look for when I’m interviewing prospective PhD students.

Table of Contents

Structure of a PhD interview

Before I’ll talk about the most common PhD interview questions, let me briefly outline what you can expect during the interview itself.

Depending on the graduate school and the preference of the prospective supervisor, the interview can be very formal or quite informal. The structure of the interview may also vary depending on your area of study, as the focus in social sciences will be different than that in environmental science or engineering.

Regardless of this, there are similar stages that you need to go through before you can be offered a place on the PhD programme.

In many cases, the PhD interview starts with a short presentation that you give in front of the interview panel. This will likely focus on your background and your PhD proposal. If you apply for a specific project, then the focus of your presentation will likely be on how do your knowledge and skills align with the scope of that specific project.

Once you are done with your presentation, which by the way is usually between 10 and 20 minutes, then the panel members will start asking you the interview questions.

These questions aim to help the panel assess your:

understanding of what a PhD degree is about and what’s required to successfully complete a PhD
current skills and knowledge and your ability to further develop your academic and technical skills
ability to manage projects under uncertainty
understanding of novelty and original research
understanding of what being a PhD student means and how demanding it is
ability to deliver the research project within given time scale (and budget)

These are just a few areas that the PhD panel will quiz you about. But remember, this isn’t just about them asking you questions – you can also do so! If you want me the share the best PhD interview questions to ask as a prospective PhD candidate, please do let me know in the comments!.

PHD INTERVIEW QUESTIONS INTERVIEW SUPPORT COACHING

What are the most common PhD interview questions?

#1 why do you want to do a phd .

Having a clear reason why you want to do a PhD gives the prospective supervisor an indication that you’ve thought this decision through. You are, therefore, less likely to drop off. Regardless of whether you want to do a PhD because of the career path you chose, willingness to solve challenges, being a lecturer in the higher education sector or just for personal ambition, having a clear why makes your performance during the PhD interview much stronger.

#2 What motivates you to do a PhD?

Another benefit of having a clear why is the fact that you will have something to aspire to. This will provide a strong driving force for you to complete your PhD, regardless of the challenges that you may experience. Make sure you list all reasons why you want to do a PhD degree before you apply and keep this list with you in case you need to boost your motivation. This will help you convince the panel that you’re prepared to handle the uncertain circumstances of research.

#3 What makes you a good PhD candidate?

One of the most common PhD interview questions is asking you to tell the panel why you think you are fit to undertake a PhD research. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is critical. You of course want to emphasise your strengths as much as possible during the interview, but you need to be ready to discuss how you are going to handle any weaknesses you may have, what further training you need during your grad school, and what other development needs you to have to put you on the academic career path.

how to perform well during phd interview

#4 What do you think PhD is about?

This is one of the first questions I ask every one of my prospective graduate students. Understanding what does PhD entails, in terms of scientific contribution and effort it takes, is critical to succeeding during your PhD interview. You need to know what you’re signing up for and you need to be prepared to work hard and smart to achieve impact with your work. It’s not only about having a good research proposal . PhD is primarily about advancing our knowledge and understanding of the world we live in. It’s challenging, it’s new, it’s uncertain – you need to be able to demonstrate that you’re able to handle this as a graduate student.

#5 What is one thing that is most important for you to successfully complete your PhD programme?

The panel is aware that research is uncertain and you may need to pivot as you go along with your work. But they may ask you about the most important question you think is necessary to help you successfully complete your PhD project. This PhD interview question is quite tricky because there isn’t a right and wrong answer. We are all different and the panel wants to verify how you’ll build on your strengths to deliver your project and impact.

phd interview coaching phd support interview support for researchers

#6 What experience do you have in this research field?

Although it isn’t always necessary to have direct experience in the field of the PhD you apply for, it will definitely help. The panel wants to verify your CV and how your past experience and education relate to the scope of your PhD. They want to make sure you have the fundamental understanding of the research area as this is crucial to success. So if your background is in social science but apply for PhD in environmental science, you need to be able to demonstrate that you’ve built a sufficient understanding of the PhD research field in another way.

#7 How your previous experience and skills will help you to deliver this project?

This is one of the interview questions that is rather asked to those who spent some time in their profession, rather than joining a graduate school straight after their Bachelor or Masters degree. This question asks you to demonstrate how you can leverage the hard and soft skills that you’ve already developed during your career to deliver a research project. The panel may also ask about the difference between the delivery of commercial and research projects at this point.

top phd interview questions you need to be ready

#8 How you can further build your skills to deliver this project?

You decided to join a grad school to further develop your skills. It isn’t only about delivering a breakthrough project, but also about developing you as an independent researcher. Therefore, you need to be able to reflect on your current skills and discuss what skills you need to succeed in graduate school. Also, think about how the faculty and supervisors can help you achieve this via additional training or mentoring.

#9 What is the novelty of your research project?

The success of your research proposal ultimately depends on the novelty it presents. Therefore, one of the most critical PhD interview questions is about the novelty of your work. Although you’ve already written your proposal, the panel may still ask you questions to further expand on your contribution to the existing body of research.

what panel asks during phd interview questions

#10 How did you come up with your project proposal?

Building on the previous question, the PhD panel can go one step further and ask you how you actually come up with your project proposal. To answer this question, you need to demonstrate an understanding of the current state-of-the-art, know the main discussions and challenges in your research field. I’m sure you’ve done some sort of literature review when preparing your research proposal.

If you’re still working on your proposal, make sure you check our approach to the literature review and research tools that can support you in the process.

If you’re having trouble coming up with new research ideas, make sure you check my article and webinar on preparing research proposals .

#11 Why this research project has not been done before?

This is one of my favourite PhD interview questions. It essentially asks why other researchers haven’t done this research yet. It allows you to demonstrate your understanding of the state-of-the-art and show your critical analysis skills. Make sure you know why the research questions weren’t answered yet. Is this because people aren’t aware of these? Or maybe there are limitations in the current approaches and you’re going to change this in your research project?

#12 What challenges do you expect to encounter in this project?

This interview question allows you to demonstrate your approach to project and risk management. Understanding what may go wrong will help you prepare better for the delivery of your project. Although you may not predict everything, it demonstrates to the panel that you understand that the PhD research is uncertain by nature.

#13 How do you deal with uncertainty and challenges?

Building on the question above, the PhD panel may actually ask you how you would handle the challenges and uncertainty in your research project. They don’t expect you to identify all challenges that you’ll experience. Rather they want to understand whether you’re able to realistically plan a research project and don’t overcommit yourself. Of course, having a clear project management plan helps with the project delivery, but it also significantly reduces the stress and anxiety associated with doing the PhD.

Some time ago I wrote h ow you can handle the uncertainty of research . Make sure you check it out.

#14 What are your career aspirations?

This question will help the PhD panel understand what career path you’d like to pursue after your PhD, whether that’s a career in higher education or industry. They want to make sure that the PhD will contribute towards building your skillset and knowledge to support your future career. Although you may want to get a PhD degree to satisfy your personal aspirations, in the majority of cases getting a doctorate is dictated by your career aspirations.

#15 Do you have any questions for me?

As in any kind of interview, once the panel stopped throwing their questions at you, they’ll ask whether you have any questions. I ALWAYS do this! Why? Although this isn’t a very difficult “question” to answer, it gives us, the panel, a significant amount of information.

If you are inquisitive about the research group, other projects, research environment, development opportunities and so on, this shows that you’re really interested in working with me. It also tells me that you’re willing to explore options and are not worried to ask questions – a skill that is CRUCIAL for all researchers. When you don’t ask any questions, this may leave a rather unfavourable impression. Therefore, make sure that you have a list of several questions that you want the panel to answer.

An interview is a crucial factor that helps the PhD panel decide whether to admit you onto their PhD degree or not. In addition to preparing a strong research proposal, you will need to demonstrate your skills, knowledge and understanding of PhD process to the panel comprising your prospective supervisor and other members of faculty.

I hope this article will give you an idea of how to prepare for a PhD interview. Here I included a list of the most difficult PhD interview questions so that you can get yourself ready.

But remember, this isn’t just about them asking you questions – you can also do so! If you want me the share the best PhD interview questions to ask as a prospective PhD candidate, please do let me know in the comments!.

Join Motivated Academic's newsletter

Get a weekly newsletter with newest information, promotions and extra tricks! Get ebook 25 ways to share your research for free!*

*By subscribing to our newsletter you agree with the privacy policy of the Motivated Academic. You can unsubscribe anytime.

What does academic success mean and how to achieve it?

How to motivate yourself when writing a research article?

Are hidden feelings of fraudulence stealing your confidence in academia how to finally overcome imposter syndrome, like this article.

Struggling with writing?

Paper Writing Masterclass is the only solution to your problem.

Learn a proven step-by-step path and start publishing your work in the best journals in your area!

Submission received, thank you!

Privacy overview.

WWDC24 Highlights

Tim Cook stands on a stage at at Apple Park on the opening day of WWDC24.

Apple Reveals Apple Intelligence

iOS 18 Makes iPhone More Personal and Intelligent Than Ever

iOS 18 brings new ways to customize iPhone, additional ways to stay connected in Messages, the biggest-ever redesign of the Photos app, and so much more.

iPadOS 18 Takes iPad to the Next Level

Two iPad Pro devices are pictured together, with one displaying a customized Home Screen and the other showing Math Notes.

macOS Sequoia Brings New Ways of Working and Transformative Intelligence to Mac

MacBook Pro shows iPhone Mirroring; Mac shows Highlights in Safari; and another MacBook Pro shows a more immersive gaming experience.

watchOS 11 Offers Powerful Health and Fitness Insights, and More Personalization

Three Apple Watch Series 9 devices show new features available in watchOS 11.

visionOS 2 Brings New Spatial Computing Experiences to Apple Vision Pro

Home and Audio Updates Elevate Entertainment and Bring More Convenience

The InSight feature in tvOS 18 displaying song info in an Apple TV+ show.

Text of this article

June 10, 2024

Relive the biggest moments from WWDC24

Today Apple kicked off its 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference, revealing groundbreaking new technologies and features during a keynote that was live-streamed from Apple Park to millions around the world. During the weeklong event, developers and students will have unique access to Apple experts, as well as insight into new tools, frameworks, and features to help elevate their apps and games.

This year’s keynote revealed Apple Intelligence , the personal intelligence system that combines the power of generative models with users’ personal context — at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac to deliver intelligence that’s incredibly useful and relevant. Major updates also come to iOS 18 , iPadOS 18 , macOS Sequoia , and watchOS 11 , including the biggest-ever redesign of the Photos app, game-changing productivity tools, and new ways for users to express themselves and customize their devices. visionOS 2 brings powerful new ways to interact with Apple Vision Pro and exciting updates to spatial photos and Mac Virtual Display, and tvOS 18 infuses useful information in Apple TV+ films and shows on users’ biggest screen in the home.

Beginning this month, Apple Vision Pro is also coming to more countries and regions, including China mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and next month will come to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the U.K.

Apple Intelligence harnesses the power of Apple silicon to understand and create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from users’ personal context to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks. A cornerstone of Apple Intelligence is on-device processing, which delivers personal intelligence without collecting users’ data. Private Cloud Compute sets a new standard for privacy in AI, with the ability to flex and scale computational capacity between on-device processing, and larger, server-based models that run on dedicated Apple silicon servers.

With iOS 18 , users will now be able to arrange apps and widgets in any open space on the Home Screen, customize the buttons at the bottom of the Lock Screen, and quickly access more controls in Control Center. With the biggest redesign ever of the Photos app, photo libraries are automatically organized in a new single view in Photos, and helpful new collections keep favorites easily accessible. All-new text effects come to iMessage, amplifying any letter, word, phrase, or emoji with dynamic, animated appearances to bring conversations to life. Users can also now communicate over satellite in the Messages app, even when a cellular or Wi-Fi connection isn’t available.

With iPadOS 18 , the iPad experience is more versatile and intelligent than ever with new features and apps designed for Apple Pencil. The Calculator app comes to iPad with Math Notes, which allows users to type or write out mathematical expressions and see them instantly solved in their own handwriting. New handwriting tools in Notes including Smart Script make handwritten notes more fluid, flexible, and easier to read.

With macOS Sequoia , Continuity between iPhone and Mac gets better than ever with iPhone Mirroring, enabling full access to and control of iPhone directly from Mac. Safari gets another big update with the new Highlights feature for effortless information discovery on webpages while browsing. Gaming is even more immersive with Personalized Spatial Audio that puts players in the middle of the action like never before. And Apple Intelligence unlocks new ways for Mac users to enhance their writing and communicate more effectively, create playful images in seconds, and more. Apple Intelligence takes full advantage of the power of Apple silicon and its Neural Engine, and will be supported by every Mac with an M-series chip.

watchOS 11 offers breakthrough insights into users’ health and fitness, and more personalization than ever. The new Vitals app surfaces key health metrics and context, the ability to measure training load offers a game-changing new experience when working out, and the popular Activity rings are even more customizable. The Smart Stack and Photos face use intelligence to feature more individualization, and Apple Watch and the Health app on iPhone and iPad offer additional support for users who are pregnant. Check In, the Translate app, and new capabilities for the double tap gesture come to Apple Watch for added connectivity and convenience.

Just months after its initial release, visionOS 2 brings powerful spatial computing experiences to Apple Vision Pro, including new ways for users to create spatial photos with the images already in their library, intuitive hand gestures to easily access important information at a glance, and new features for Mac Virtual Display, Travel Mode, and Guest User. visionOS 2 also introduces exciting new capabilities like Follow Your Breathing in the Mindfulness app, SharePlay for Photos, and multiview in the TV app.

With tvOS 18 , intelligent new features like InSight — and updates to Enhance Dialogue and subtitles — level up cinematic experiences, while new Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, and FaceTime capabilities get even better on users’ biggest screen. The Home app gains new features with iOS 18, like guest access and hands-free unlock with home keys, delivering effortless and secure access to the home. AirPods software updates will transform the way users respond to Siri with new gestures, take calls with friends and loved ones, and immerse themselves in their favorite games.

Press Contacts

Apple Media Helpline

[email protected]

Images in this article

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

Preparing a very short presentation for a PhD interview [closed]

I have an interview for a PhD position for which I have to create a presentation. They say:

In this first stage interview you will be asked to give a four minute presentation on a project you have recently been involved and your suitability for this Ph.D. This will be followed by around 10-15 minutes of general questions from the panel.

My English is not very well and the interview is in English. Does anyone know how I should create a presentation? What topic I have to mention it?

What are their possible questions?

presentation

2 What are possible questions - all are possible. Only the committee know what will they ask you . As per the 4-min presentation: the shortest I've given was a 6-7 mins one. I wrote down the whole text I intended to tell, and re-read it several times, also aloud, and said the presentation to a colleague. This was not learning it word-by-word by heart, but to have the exact plan of the presentation settle in my mind. – user68958 Commented May 30, 2019 at 12:53
My recommendation for slides technology is LaTeX beamer . But that is just technology. The interview is to evaluate your oral communication skills (not mostly your English skills). Study existing slides of your field for preparing that – Basile Starynkevitch Commented May 30, 2019 at 12:56
1 A mistake (especially by beginners) is to have too much material for the time allotted. – GEdgar Commented May 30, 2019 at 13:13
This is not answerable as a Stackexchange question, but I would add to what others have said - 4 minutes is a REALLY SHORT TIME , so you should be prepared for that, not include too much content, and have planned out exactly what you want to say (but not scripted, unless your level of English makes that unavoidable) – Flyto Commented May 30, 2019 at 17:45

3 Answers 3

It sound like you need to give an elevator pitch with slides. Short presentations are tough! You need to follow their instructions exactly and describe both a project and your fit to the program. You need to have this in mind: this is a sales pitch, so be short and to the point.

The objective is to sell yourself, so details on the project matter less than how you contributed in a way that’s relevant to the PhD program you’re applying to. So if your program is on graphic design focus on how your designs were used in the project, if it’s programming, focus on your code contribution etc.

In the part about you, try to show that you’ll be an amazing fit to the program: high-level plans, your agenda, your vision etc. you need to convince the committee that you’ll be a valuable asset to the program.

You must practice your talk several times till it’s perfect, and ask your friends to listen to it!

While conference talks are different, I highly recommend Simon Peyton Jones’ advice on how to give great talks, here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/academic-program/give-great-research-talk/

The goal of this type of presentation is to allow your audience to see and hear your current level of communication skills along and your professional interests as they relate to research. The nature of PhD application packets is they are surprisingly large, yet surprisingly low on clear, reliable information content. This is a great opportunity to make up for that fundamental weakness in the system.

One big issue for the people interviewing you is that many people have a CV that probably looks a lot like yours in many ways. Lots of people mention they had some previous experience with a project of some kind, and it is completely unclear what their actual involvement was. So this is your chance to make it so they have a much clearer understanding of what your level of involvement and understanding of that project was.

Questions to Prepare For

There is no standard script, but you should prepare to answer questions like:

What part of this project was the most challenging/hard/interesting?
If you were going to do this project again, what would you do differently?
Is this project the kind you would like to work on in the future?
Do you have any experience with X? (you may have never heard of that before, ask if you don't know)
Tell us more about your experience with X? (where X is generally pulled directly from your CV or personal statement - you should be prepared to talk in more detail about anything you put in your application materials)
Why did you choose [some aspect of the project]? Ex: Why did you use multiple t-tests in the analysis (if you did stats)? Why did you make this as a web/phone application? Why did you choose to focus on revolutions in the 15th century? etc
If you had your choice to work on any type of project in your first semester in the program here, what would you work on?
Do you have any questions for us? (you don't have to have any)

They will not necessarily ask any/all of these questions - but I would expect you to be able to answer any of them on the spot reasonably well in such an interview.

General Short Presentation Outline

You can reorder things as you like, but in general I would expect for a short talk of only 4 minutes that you would cover:

~30 seconds: basic intro of yourself like name, university and major you are coming from, and where you work if you are not coming directly from college (and assuming it is relevant to research - no need to mention if you are working in a restaurant now, for example)
~30 seconds: background/motivation for the project you are talking about. Why was this project done, what reason would there be for anyone to care about it?
~1 minute: what you did on the project
~1 minute: what was the big takeaway, lesson learned, result, impact, whatever
~1 minute: how do you think this project (and or other projects you've done) prepare you for advanced studies? It should be clear how the skills and interests involved in this project directly relate to what you want to do during your graduate studies

The hardest part of short presentations is just how short they are. Generally I find I need to prepare double the material, or enough for about a 10 minute talk on my first personal practice attempt, to start with. Then I have to cut, cut, cut, and revise to get it down to 5 minutes, and that ends up being too much. You know it's too much when as you look at the time while you practice you feel you have to rush because you are running out of time. Don't rush - remove material.

I find it helpful to say the talk out loud quietly to myself, with a stopwatch running (clock app on your phone/computer works fine for this). This helps you practice what you want to say and how long it takes. The timing dictates you do not have time to get into very low levels of detail, because there is too much you would have to say - that's how these talks work, if they want details they will ask.

The project you pick should be as clearly related to your reasons for applying for a PhD and wanting to do research as possible. Applying for a Computer Science program to work in computer vision and then presenting a group project where you did a literature review for the historical legacy of Marxism in Eastern Europe would be...hard to pull off well.

Finally, do not worry about your English skills. Seriously. Focus on clarity of your communication, taking deep breaths to calm yourself before the interview helps most people, and try to speak in a steady and clear way. Many students are not especially confident English speakers, and in fact there are often professors at most Universities that aren't either. No one is tut-tutting your grammar or demanding you use exactly the right word for everything. Besides, your current level of skill is just your current level of skill - there really isn't any hiding it, so no sense in trying. Just try to be clear, speak in a measured and calm way, and this will help both you and your audience to get what they need from the presentation.

Oh, and one last thing, in case it may help - no one expects perfection here. Academics, as a group, give some of the worst presentations on the planet, even at very high levels of achievement and seniority. I have seen middle-school students give presentations that were more clear and pleasant than some of the talks given at the most prestigious conferences in the field by highly accomplished authors. This is not a TED talk, you are not interviewing to be an entertainer or orator. Focus on clarity and telling a story that shows you have applicable skills and reasonable, thought-out, applicable interests to the program you have applied to, and you will be fine. You will have to prepare and practice, but it should not be seen as a great obstacle - its just a chance to talk about one piece of your experience and your interests in a way that would be otherwise impossible to communicate in a typical 2 page application statement.

They told you what your ppt needs to be about:

Part 1. A project you were part of,

Part 2. Why you are a suitable candidate for the phd.

So a slide of intro, some slides of a project then some slides of motivation and close...

As for asking what are their possible questions - that has so many possibilities:

Questions about project ie points that were unclear,

Questions about you & motivation

Questions about your education so far

The list goes on.

thank you how many slid do I need for four minutes? – hesam Commented May 30, 2019 at 5:23
You need to decide - more than 4 but too many means they don’t have time to look at them. – Solar Mike Commented May 30, 2019 at 5:27
More than four slides for a four minute talk is too much. A good rule of thumb is 1 to 2 minutes per slide. For a very short talk I would actually go towards the lower number: one title slide, one slide for the project and one slide about why you are an excellent candidate for a PhD position. And make sure that you actually give a talk and don't just read the slides to the audience. – user9482 Commented May 30, 2019 at 8:24
@Roland there may be some images that warrant an extra slide for the project... And given the interview is next Monday, that means the OP does not have much time to craft the presentation and get some practice in... – Solar Mike Commented May 30, 2019 at 8:25
1 More than four slides as for this is not a talk. Focus of audience will be on candidate and his/her potential and motivation. No one expect a skilled presenter but rather an enthusiast though cool young persons. It then depends on the actual candidate. Asking in practice a former supervisor or teacher would be a good idea – Alchimista Commented May 30, 2019 at 10:56

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged presentation interview .

Featured on Meta
Upcoming sign-up experiments related to tags

Hot Network Questions

Idiom for a situation where a problem has two simultaneous but unrelated causes?
Creating a command to display blackboard font
Freewheeling diode in a capacitor
TikZ - diagram of a 1D spin chain
Forcing QGIS to export using left hand rule
Is "ROW_NUMBER() OVER(ORDER BY xml.node)" well defined?
A puzzle from YOU to ME ;)
if people are bred like dogs, what can be achieved?
Is this professor being unnecessarily harsh or did I actually make a mistake?
How is it possible to supply an LM833D with +12V and -8V supply?
Numerical approximation of the integral by using data
If a reference is no longer publicly available, should you include the proofs of the results you cite from it?
Comprehensive Guide to saying Mourners' Kaddish
What is the purpose of the M1 pin on a Z80
What was the submarine in the film "Ice Station Zebra"?
Rewarding the finding of zeroes of a hash function
A polynomial with at least a simple root
Apply for Swiss residence permit: some non-EU nationals related points
What's the role of the transistor on power input in this schematic?
C# Linked List implementation
What is the explicit list of the situations that require RAII?
Do I need to staple cable for new wire run through a preexisting wall?
Mōnstrō and mōnstrum - how exactly are they related?
Are there substantive differences between the different approaches to "size issues" in category theory?

IMAGES

[Solved] 10 minute presentation for a PhD interview
Self Introduction for PhD Interview with Sample
Download this Sample PowerPoint For PhD Interview Template from
How To Deliver A 5-10 min PhD INTERVIEW PRESENTATION
Introduce yourself in a PhD interview (4 simple steps + examples
Free phd interview presentation template

VIDEO

PhD Interview Delhi university
IIT Delhi Ph.D. Interview (Physics)| IITD
University of Kota
Why do research proposals get rejected?
How to prepare PhD interview
PhD Thesis Defense on Artificial Intelligence #dissertation #ai #research #greenhydrogen

COMMENTS

Top 10 Ph.D. Interview Presentation Templates With Samples ...
Here are some common challenges associated with using presentation templates for PhD interviews: In a recent survey, 6 out of 10 students feel nervous and anxious before the final presentation. It is because they find it challenging to communicate the importance of their research effectively. Crafting visually appealing slides can be tricky ...
PhD Interview Presentation Example
For a mock interview with me, book here! https://www.fiverr.com/share/ebqE9gI show you my Oxford PhD interview presentation slides as an example of a researc...
Introduce yourself in a PhD interview (4 simple steps + examples)
Step 1: State your full name. Example. Step 2: Give a brief overview of your educational (and professional) background. Example. Step 3: Explain why you are interested in the PhD position. Example. Step 4: Thank everyone for the opportunity to be interviewed. Example.
The PhD Interview
Depending on the format for your PhD interview it could involve: A formal question and answer session in front of a postgraduate recruitment panel. A presentation, based on your research proposal or area of expertise. A one-to-one discussion with your prospective supervisor.
How To Deliver A 5-10 min PhD INTERVIEW PRESENTATION
Apologies in advance for the numerous ERMMM………. I was having a serious ermmmm fit that day 😬Time StampMy 10 minute PhD Interview Presentation - 10:05PhD Int...
How to prepare a ten-minute presentation for a PhD interview?
Ten minutes is like "no time at all". You can do very little. However, it is likely that the hiring committee is much more interested in what you will do in the future, related to their general concerns, than what you have done in the past. So, I'd suggest you mention, briefly, the past results but stress the work in progress and the possible ...
PhD Interview Questions and Answers
Be honest about the things you find challenging, but identify them as training needs and discuss how you expect to improve upon them as part of your PhD. Do answer: I feel that I'm a good written communicator. My existing academic and professional work demonstrates an ability to put forward ideas clearly and concisely.
"Tell Me About Yourself" PhD Interview Question & Expert Answers
Conclusion. The "tell me about yourself" PhD interview question is nothing to fear, provided you prepare. Once you have your answer, your preparation should also involve mock interviews so that you can become comfortable with the format, time your answer, and make adjustments. You can reach out to PhD admission consultant s to help you ...
21-Point Interview Presentation Checklist For PhDs
Always ask for clarification. And, once you know what they want, it's time to prepare. Here is a 21-point checklist for PhDs preparing for an industry interview presentation…. 1. Know your audience and tailor your talk to them.
How to Prepare for a PhD Interview
Here are some ways to prepare for your interview: Review your research proposal or statement of purpose. The interviewer will likely make reference to it during the interview. Go over the experiences that have prepared you for a PhD and be ready to give specific examples during the interview. Be able to explain the reasons why you applied to ...
How to Prepare for a PhD Interview Step-by-step
For foreign applicants, the selection committee will use an interview to assess how well you understand and communicate in English in real-time. Now that we have those "red flags" identified, here some suggestions to help you prepare for your PhD interview. Top 3 Tips to Prepare for Your PhD Interview #1 Show passion for academic research
To ace your Ph.D. program interviews, prepare to answer—and ...
To ace your Ph.D. program interviews, prepare to answer—and ask—these key questions. You've made it to the last step of the Ph.D. application process: the interview. Congratulations! But amid the excitement and butterflies, don't neglect the crucial next step: preparation. Grad school interviews—in which aspiring graduate students meet ...
PhD Interview Questions and Answers (13 Questions + Answers)
Most PhD applications include an interview. This allows your university (and perhaps even your prospective supervisor) to discuss the PhD with you in more detail. This article lists some of the most common PhD interview questions along with their answers. The goal is to help you prepare for a PhD interview and pass with flying colors.
Top Tips for PhD interviews…
It will be important for you to know a bit about the City, Institute and Centre you are applying to in terms of contribution to science, research facilities available, extra curricular activities available and why this particular place would be the best for the PhD being offered. So keep that in mind. Another worthwhile exercise is to look into ...
Free phd interview presentation template
PhD Interview Presentation. Transcript: Interview for PhD position at Utrecht University About Me! I am a Yemeni, lived 20 years in Malaysia. My interest has always revolved around giving back to either society and the planet. I am currently finialisng my Masters thesis at Radboud University, and also interning at a chemical manufaturing company.
Key PhD Interview Questions (And How to Answer Them)
This question aims to assess your motivation for undertaking a PhD. Be honest and reflective in your response, explaining how your academic background, research interests, and career goals align with the programme. Show that you have a clear understanding of the commitment required and are prepared for the challenges of a PhD.
Slides for a brief presentation at a PhD Interview
575 2 7 9. 1. The presentation is a chance to make a personal connection. Don't fill it up with details that can easily be read from your application/CV. Personally I think your motivations and career goals are the most important to this. This is your chance to show your passion and dedication. - user24098.
Advice for STEM PhD interviews and common questions
This blog post provides examples of some of the most common interview questions, and advice on how to prepare a presentation on either a research project you've done (e.g. during an internship, bachelor's thesis, or a master's programme). I am currently doing a PhD at Oxford in Genomic Medicine and Statistics, and I applied to several ...
10 minute presentation for a scholarship PhD interview
3. I was selected for an interview for a PhD scholarship and asked to give a 10-minute presentation consisting of 10 slides including "summarising both your research experience and your research plan for the project". How should I set up the PPT? Is this way ok? How much detail should I go into when describing my thesis?
How To Prepare for a PhD Interview
September 26, 2023. Home » PhD » How To Prepare for a PhD Interview. So, you've written your personal statement, you've sent through your application and now you've been invited to a PhD interview, the first step is to congratulate yourself; only 30 - 50% of PhD applicants make it through to the initial interview stage.
Top 15 PhD interview questions that you must be ready to answer!
In many cases, the PhD interview starts with a short presentation that you give in front of the interview panel. This will likely focus on your background and your PhD proposal. If you apply for a specific project, then the focus of your presentation will likely be on how do your knowledge and skills align with the scope of that specific project.
Advice for online PhD interview presentation
1. I recently applied for an advertised PhD project and I've made it to the interview stage. For the interview I have been asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation explaining (1) why I am interested/attracted to the project and (2) what skills and attributes I will bring to the research/project. I will also not be allowed to use PowerPoint, to ...
WWDC24 Highlights
This year's keynote revealed Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that combines the power of generative models with users' personal context — at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac to deliver intelligence that's incredibly useful and relevant.Major updates also come to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and watchOS 11, including the biggest-ever redesign of the Photos app ...
Preparing a very short presentation for a PhD interview
They say: In this first stage interview you will be asked to give a four minute presentation on a project you have recently been involved and your suitability for this Ph.D. This will be followed by around 10-15 minutes of general questions from the panel. My English is not very well and the interview is in English.