Biologist Interview Questions & Answers


Biologists study organisms and plant life to learn more about their composition, behaviors, habitats, and how they interact with other organisms and their environment. They conduct research, collect samples and measurements, perform tests and experiments, and interpret and report their findings.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Biologist or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Biologist position, these Biologist interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Biologist Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Biologist interview questions.

  1. What do you find appealing about the work biologists do?
  2. Describe your research experience. With what tools, lifeforms, and ecosystems have you worked?
  3. What kind of experience do you have collecting and analyzing biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment? Share an example. 
  4. Are you comfortable working with animals?
  5. Describe your process for troubleshooting an experiment that isn’t working.
  6. What is the most challenging part of supervising biological technicians and technologists and other scientists?               
  7. Explain in detail, how you prepare technical and research reports such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in the industry, government, or the public.
  8. What would you do if you noticed an error in another biologist’s work?
  9. We want our biologists to be adaptable to changes in the field. Describe a time when you had to adapt to a new requirement or change in your work environment.
  10. What was your most challenging project and why? What would you do differently?
  11. If hired, what area of biology would you like to focus on?
  12. Share an example when you measured salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life. What were your findings?  
  13. What is your experience with lab work?
  14. What do you think is the most important aspect of lab safety?
  15. How do you study basic principles of plant and animal life such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function?
  16. Describe your favorite ecosystem or organism. How have you worked with it? Why is it your favorite?
  17. Name a time where you studied aquatic plants and animals and environmental conditions affecting them such as radioactivity or pollution. Any new findings? 
  18. How well do you communicate your findings in writing?
  19. When was the last time you updated your knowledge on your specialty area?
  20. Share an approach to study and manage wild animal populations.
  21. Describe how you've worked with a team to complete a difficult research project. How did you handle it?
  22. There is a new technology that could drastically change how you perform your experiments. How would you go about learning how to use it?
  23. Share an example where you developed methods and apparatus for securing representative plant, animal, aquatic, or soil samples.
  24. What method have you found effective researching environmental effects of present and potential uses of land and water areas, determining methods of improving environmental conditions or such outputs as crop yields? 
  25. How often do you perform quality checks on your experiments?
  26. Talk about the last time you reviewed reports and proposals, such as those relating to land use classifications and recreational development, for accuracy, adequacy, or adherence to policies, regulations, or scientific standards.
  27. Share an experience in which your diligence in inspecting equipment, structures, or materials helped you identify a problem or the cause of a problem.

Biologist Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Biologist interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

  1. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
  2. What is Your Greatest Strength?
  3. Tell Me About Yourself
  4. Why Do You Want This Job?
  5. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
  6. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
  7. What is Your Salary Expectation?
  8. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
  9. Why Should We Hire You?
  10. What is Your Greatest Weakness?