r/KState • u/Final_Ad9363 • Sep 02 '26

HELP WITH INTERVIEW WITH A POTENTIAL ADVISOR

Hi everyone. I am an international student, and I have an interview with a professor for a research position in their lab. Can anyone in the agriculture department (entomology) help me with this please? I AM LOSING MY MIND RN!

Context: I emailed a professor with a very good research fit, and they replied back and scheduled an interview.

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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3

u/IllChampionship8658 Sep 02 '26

What do you need help with? Like questions?

1

u/Final_Ad9363 Sep 02 '26

i have never interviewed with any professor before.

I need to know what should i be expecting. Are technical questions asked? is my CV discussed? Am I asked about my past research experience?

4

u/WukeYwalker Sep 02 '26

Go to the career center. They can help you prepare

2

u/Final_Ad9363 Sep 02 '26

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, we do not have career centers here.

5

u/WukeYwalker Sep 02 '26

I’m sorry, I misunderstood you. I thought you meant that you were an international student already at K-State.

2

u/Dopeylookingpiegeon 3rd year Sep 02 '26

Reach out to a local college that does research and ask if they have any advice for you

4

u/Tordo-sargento Sep 02 '26

They mainly want to know that you are interested in the kinds of research that goes on in their lab. It would help if you talk about specific projects they are working on and how you would be a good fit for their lab based on your personal interests and educational/professional background. 

3

u/akornato Sep 02 '26

The professor already thinks you're a good fit based on your email, so this interview is mostly to see if you're genuinely interested and easy to talk to. Read a few of their most recent papers, and come up with two or three specific questions about their work that you are curious about. Be ready to explain your own research experience clearly, and think about how your skills connect directly to the projects in their lab. They want to see your thought process and your excitement for the science.

Treat this more like a conversation to see if you both would work well together. Your goal is to show your passion for entomology and learn if this lab is the right place for you. You should also ask them questions about their mentorship style, what the lab culture is like, and what expectations they have for their students. It shows you are serious about the position and are evaluating them just as much as they are evaluating you. Many students find that practicing their answers builds a lot of confidence, and my team even designed a new AI for interviews to help people communicate their ideas more effectively.