Senior Principal Pathologist
Posted Sep 3, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 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
You'd partner with toxicologists and serve as a scientific expert to other departments on cross-functional teams. How do you explain a pathology finding to a project team that wants a yes or no?
What they are checking: Whether they can give a project team a clear, honest answer without oversimplifying the science behind a finding.
How do you handle disagreement with another pathologist about a slide?
What they are checking: Whether they handle disagreement through peer review and evidence, respecting that interpretation varies among skilled pathologists.
At a senior principal level you would be shaping practice, not just reading studies. What would you want to improve in how nonclinical pathology is done?
What they are checking: Whether they have a real view on improving their discipline, which is what a senior principal level should bring.
What would you do
A finding would slow or stop a program the business is committed to. How do you handle that?
What they are checking: Whether they will hold to the science when a finding threatens a program, since patient safety depends on that independence.
This is based at North Chicago working with the toxicology department. What would you want to know about the portfolio and the pathology group before you took it?
What they are checking: Whether they ask about the portfolio and pathology team before accepting, which shows they plan for the real work.
About the work
This role assesses the safety of experimental compounds by evaluating their effects across nonclinical safety models. Walk me through how you approach a new compound's pathology.
What they are checking: Whether they have a clear, systematic way to evaluate a new compound, showing scientific method rather than relying on credentials.
You'd integrate anatomic pathology, clinical pathology and other study findings into a pathology report. How do you handle it when those three do not agree?
What they are checking: Whether they can reconcile conflicting findings into one sound interpretation, the central challenge of writing a pathology report.
You'd design, direct and evaluate in vivo studies with the toxicology department to determine potential toxicity. What makes a study design good enough to answer the question?
What they are checking: Whether they can design studies that actually answer the safety question, with the right species, doses and endpoints.
How do you decide whether a finding is adverse or incidental?
What they are checking: Whether they reason carefully about adversity, using severity, reversibility and context, because this call shapes every safety decision downstream.
What would you want to know about a species difference before you relied on it in a safety assessment?
What they are checking: Whether they think carefully about whether animal findings apply to humans, which is central to judging nonclinical safety.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by AbbVie.