Clinical Research Associate Mock Interview

Master 40 Clinical Research Associate interview questions covering GCP compliance, monitoring visits, and regulatory protocols.

WRITTEN BY KRISTA WENZ

QUESTION 4 OF 40

When your boss asks you to design an assay to detect a mutation using PCR, provide a list of 3 things you will do before testing and optimizing begin.

Krista Wenz

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.

What You Need to Know

Always be prepared for the interviewer to ask you situation- and knowledge-based questions to understand how you outline your process and how well you can explain concepts to others. As new and improved assays are constantly being developed and implanted in laboratory research and clinical settings, the interviewer wants to see what three things you will do before testing begins. Before you respond, ask the interviewer whether or not this is a diagnostic assay with FDA regulations so the interviewer knows that you understand the difference between clinical and research. Then you will be prepared to formulate your response.

Krista Wenz

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.

Example Answer

"In this case, I would first review current literature to understand what is currently being used to test the specific mutation in question. Then, I would evaluate the necessary and available equipment, reagents, and resources needed. Finally, I would write a protocol for the procedure."

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40 Clinical Research Associate Interview Questions & Answers

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01 When making a 1L 1X PBS solution from the stock 10X concentration, how would you do it; which formula would you use? ROLE-SPECIFIC 02 What is the purpose of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)? Please provide an example of when you've run one in the past. COMPETENCY 03 When receiving a new piece of equipment in the lab, give a brief explanation of what you would do to verify that the equipment works properly for its intended test. COMPETENCY 04 When your boss asks you to design an assay to detect a mutation using PCR, provide a list of 3 things you will do before testing and optimizing begin. ROLE-SPECIFIC 05 What is the difference between accuracy and precision? COMMUNICATION 06 Give an example of a time you trained someone on a procedure. What went well and what did you learn from the experience? LEADERSHIP 07 In the scenario where your quality control fails, what troubleshooting steps would you take? COMPETENCY 08 Give an example of the types of metadata and/or data analysis you are familiar with and have used in previous positions. COMPETENCY 09 If you find yourself in a situation where your laboratory finds contamination, what troubleshooting steps would you take? CRITICAL THINKING 10 What is your experience with following procedure, preparing for, and being involved in a regulatory audit and/or inspections of any kind? CAPABILITY 11 As a follow-up to the inspection question, what if you encounter a documentation error before the inspection? Is there a time when manipulating data is acceptable? CRITICAL THINKING 12 If your laboratory needs a new piece of equipment, what steps would you take and what do you consider when bringing new equipment aboard? ROLE-SPECIFIC 13 What is your experience with cell culture and what types of cell culture-based assays have you performed? EXPERIENCE 14 When your boss asks you to get 5 aliquots each of 5 different samples to deliver to another department, what is being asked and how would you perform the task? COMPETENCY 15 A colleague asks you to ensure the glassware is sterilized for next week's experiments. What do you do? ROLE-SPECIFIC 16 Describe a time when you made a pipetting error and what you did to fix it. CRITICAL THINKING 17 How would you describe Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) to a new employee? COMPETENCY 18 Describe your experience writing a standard operating procedure (SOP). EXPERIENCE 19 How do you feel about supervising others and their work? LEADERSHIP 20 Do you have any questions for us? ASK THE INTERVIEWER 21 Give me example of a large project or task you completed, the steps you took, and the overall outcome. PERFORMANCE BASED 22 How do you prioritize when you have multiple deadlines? PROBLEM SOLVING 23 What made you choose clinical research as a career path? DISCOVERY 24 What have you done to further your professional development in the past 5 years? CAREER GOALS 25 How do you manage your time when under pressure? STRESS 26 What is your greatest strength? DISCOVERY 27 What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it? TOUGH 28 What do you know about our organization, and what makes you want to work with us? DILIGENCE 29 Are you a detail-oriented person? COMPATIBILITY 30 How would you handle an unethical request from a superior? TOUGH 31 How do you describe your job to others who are unfamiliar with this line of work? COMMUNICATION 32 What is your favorite stage of a clinical trial and why? DISCOVERY 33 What part of your job is the most rewarding? COMPATIBILITY 34 What is your best piece of advice you would give to someone who is interested in pursuing a career as a Clinical Research Associate? DISCOVERY 35 Suppose you hear that a coworker is talking poorly about you behind your back. How would you respond? CONFLICT 36 Tell me about the data entry programs you are familiar with. COMPATIBILITY 37 Why are you looking for a new job? DIRECT 38 How would you respond if a trial participant asked you why they should participate in a clinical trial? COMMUNICATION 39 This position requires traveling approximately 50% of the time, often on short notice. Will this be an issue for you? ROLE-SPECIFIC 40 How did you hear about this position? DISCOVERY

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Krista Wenz

Written by Krista Wenz

40 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS · CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE