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This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 5, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Embryologist II- Reproductive Endo Infertility Full Time Days

Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 5, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a mistake you made or nearly made in the lab. What did you change afterward?

What they are checking: Whether they are honest about errors and fix systems, which matters in work where mistakes are irreversible.

What would you do

Your fertilization rates drop over two weeks for no clear reason. How do you investigate?

What they are checking: Whether they think systematically about media, incubators, air quality, and technique as a source of quality problems.

A physician asks you to transfer an embryo you graded as poor quality. How do you handle that conversation?

What they are checking: Whether they can share their honest assessment with the clinical team while respecting the physician's decision.

About the work

Walk me through how you identify and grade oocytes from follicular fluid right after retrieval.

What they are checking: Whether they can work quickly and accurately with fluid where timing and temperature affect egg viability.

How do you decide whether a case should get conventional insemination or ICSI?

What they are checking: Whether they understand sperm and oocyte factors behind fertilization method choice, not just how to perform ICSI.

Describe your ICSI technique and what you watch for during injection that tells you something is going wrong.

What they are checking: Whether they have true hands-on micromanipulation skill and can recognize membrane or oocyte damage.

How many trophectoderm biopsies have you done, and how do you minimize damage to the embryo?

What they are checking: Whether their biopsy experience is real and careful enough for PGT cases at an advanced level.

Tell me exactly how your lab prevents a mix-up of gametes or embryos between patients.

What they are checking: Whether they treat witnessing and labeling as sacred, since a mix-up is the worst error in an IVF lab.

How do you monitor media and culture conditions to make sure they support embryo growth?

What they are checking: Whether they understand QC for pH, temperature, osmolality, and gas, which the posting calls out directly.

Walk me through vitrification and warming of embryos, and how you track embryos in cryostorage.

What they are checking: Whether they handle cryopreservation with precision and keep inventory records that are fully reliable.

Practice this interview out loud.

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Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Embryologist II reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. The Embryologist II is an experienced, fully-trained embryologist who has a thorough knowledge of assisted reproduction. This position is primarily responsible for performing procedures for artificial reproductive technology including complete human egg fertilization and embryo culturing. This includes microscopic identification of oocytes contained in follicular fluid following the aspiration procedure, classifying the oocytes depending on nuclear characteristics (a measure of oocyte maturation), preparation of granulose cells for co culture, sperm preparation (washing, isolation, buffer treatment, count, motility analysis), oocyte insemination, microscopic identification of fertilized eggs, cryopreservation of excess embryos, preparation of embryos for transfer to the uterus, thawing of cryopreserved embryos for transfer to the uterus. The Embryologist II performs advanced micromanipulation techniques including embryo biopsy and ICSI to facilitate fertilization and monitors media quality to assure ability to support growth of embryos. Responsibilities: • Performs advanced micromanipulation of embryos and oocytes including embryo biopsy and ICSI • Performs laboratory assignments correctly and reliably, including routine procedures and quality control tests, as described in the Laboratory Procedure Manual. Certain amount of assignments will take place on weekend and after regular working hours. • Contribute to patient management by communication laboratory findings and interpretations of the findings with physicians, nurses and patients, if appropriate. • Assist laboratory director in maintaining and updating laboratory supplies and equipment. • Assist laboratory director in data collection and analysis. • Assist laboratory director in laboratory preparedness for CAP • Participate in continuing education activities. • Participate in continuing quality improvement programs of the foundation and laboratory. • Participates in training of new staff as requested Required : • Bachelor’s degree in biological or chemical sciences or equivalent relevant experience. • Three (3) to five (5) years’ experience in a relevant role. • Previous experience in advanced micromanipulation, tissue culture, sterile techniques and egg iteration . Preferred : • Certification as ART Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.