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Research Assistant-Graduate Student

Medical College of Wisconsin · Milwaukee, WI · Part time

Posted May 15, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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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 the research you've done so far, and what part of it you did yourself.

What they are checking: Whether they can clearly describe their own hands-on contribution instead of only the lab's overall project.

Tell me about an experiment that didn't work. What did you do next?

What they are checking: Whether they troubleshoot step by step and stay persistent rather than giving up or guessing.

Tell me about a time you had to learn a new method quickly. How did you go about it?

What they are checking: Whether they can pick up skills on their own using papers, protocols and people around them.

How do you see this research assistant role fitting into your graduate training and career goals?

What they are checking: Whether they have a clear reason to be here, which predicts how invested they will be in the work.

What would you do

How do you plan to balance your coursework with the hours you'd work as a research assistant?

What they are checking: Whether they have a realistic plan for time, since the lab depends on them showing up reliably.

You notice a result that doesn't match what your supervisor expects. How do you bring it up?

What they are checking: Whether they report data honestly even when it is inconvenient, which is the base of research integrity.

If you weren't sure how to do a step in a protocol and your supervisor was away, what would you do?

What they are checking: Whether they ask the right person or wait rather than guessing and wasting samples.

About the work

Walk me through how you keep a lab notebook or record your work so someone else could repeat it.

What they are checking: Whether they understand that research only counts if others can follow and reproduce what was done.

What lab techniques or software are you comfortable with today, and what would you need to be trained on?

What they are checking: Whether they know their own skill level honestly so the lab can plan training.

How do you handle working with human subjects data or animal work in terms of rules and privacy?

What they are checking: Whether they know that IRB and animal care rules exist and must be followed exactly.

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The full job description

As published by Medical College of Wisconsin.

MCW Research Assistant Graduate Student Program Why MCW? • Outstanding Healthcare Coverage, including but not limited to Health, Vision, and Dental. Along with Flexible Spending options • 403B Retirement Package • Competitive Vacation and Paid Holidays offered • Tuition Reimbursement • Paid Parental Leave • Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) • Pet Insurance • On campus Fitness Facility, offering onsite classes • Additional discounted rates on items such as: Select cell phone plans, local fitness facilities, Milwaukee recreation and entertainment etc. For a brief overview of our benefits see: Benefits Overview For a full list of positions see: MCW Careers At MCW all of our endeavors, from our internal operations to our interactions with our partners, are driven by our shared organizational values: Caring – Collaborative – Curiosity – Inclusive – Integrity – Respect. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives through merit-based processes and in alignment with all applicable laws. We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within. Our values define who we are, what we stand for and how we conduct ourselves at MCW. If you believe in embracing individuality and working together according to these principles to improve health for all, then MCW is the place for you. For more information, please visit our institutional website . MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination: The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

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