Hi Giacomo,

Well the interview was very different to what I was led to expect from looking at the prospects website and a few other websites which gave 'common' postgraduate/ masters interview questions, although they were still helpful for preparation.
Because the MSc isn't a conversion course you are expected to have a working knowledge of Neuroscience already. Because I have a background in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience they began by asking me a few questions to gauge my knowledge of cellular and molecular Neuroscience. They then asked me questions about my experience as a research assistant. Because I work in the area of psychosis research and have done research on Cannabis they asked me what I thought about the link between Cannabis and Psychosis. Finally they asked me my opinions of the ethics of animal research.
The interview finished off with them giving me an opportunity to ask my own questions about the course. I remember the process so well because I went through the whole thing a million times in my head once the interview was over.

Hi Everyone,

I've recently been invited for an interview for an MRC studentship for the Neuroscience MSc at UCL. I have an interview in June but there have been some cancellations and they have asked me if I would like to have an interview on this Thursday (20th May). I don't really feel prepared at all and would rather take the interview in June. However I've just started to worry that they might give away the funded places before I even get a chance to interview in June. So my question is, is this just me being paranoid, would they fill the places before they completed the interviews or would it be better for me to wait till June when I will have more time to prepare.

Also if anyone has any tips for this kind of interview that would be very much appreciated as I have never had any kind of academic interview before, only work interviews so I have no idea what kind of thing to expect.

Best,
Mike

Hi everyone,

I graduated last summer and have since been working as a voluntary research assistant to gain experience before starting my PhD in Neuroscience some time in the future. The University I am getting this experience at has advertised a full time paid RA position for a project in the exact area I would like to do my PhD in. I have got an interview for this Wednesday (3rd Feb) and would just like a bit of help.

I obviously know plenty about the topic itself so questions related to that are not a worry, however this is my first interview for an research position and so I was just wondering if anyone on the forum had any advise on the potential non-subject specific questions that are likely to come up in a RA position interview. Obviously I'm hoping to here from people who have had interviews for RA positions in Neuroscience or any biological science or PhD students who may have satin on any interviews.

(I don't know if this would make any difference but the University is in the UK)

Thanks to anyone who could help.