HOP LAB Interview!

Tell me about yourself

I’d describe myself as someone who really enjoys learning and challenging myself. I recently graduated from UC San Diego with a degree in Pharmacological Chemistry, and I found that I really enjoyed the hands-on side of my science courses. I also spent about two years as a student lab assistant, which gave me a chance to work with research data and become more comfortable with data analysis. Now I’m hoping to bring those experiences into a professional lab where I can keep learning and improving my technical skills.

Do you consider yourself a leader or a follower? Why?

I wouldn’t really describe myself as one or the other. I’m comfortable taking the lead when I understand what needs to be done, but I’m also comfortable stepping back and supporting someone who has more experience. I really do think it’s situation based & I am able to adapt.

How do you handle pressure in the workplace?

I try to stay organized and focus on what needs to be done first rather than letting the pressure overwhelm me. When I worked in the pharmacy, there were often several things happening at once, so I learned to prioritize while remaining accurate. I’m a big list person and found that it was easier for me to stay calm if I could follow of list of things that needed to be done based on priority.

What is your greatest weakness?

One thing I’ve been working on is knowing when to ask for help. I used to feel like I should figure things out on my own if I could but I’ve learned that especially in a laboratory, it’s better to ask a question than make an assumption that could be wrong.

What is your greatest strength?

I’d say one of my biggest strengths is my flexibility. I’m comfortable when things change or don’t go exactly as planned, and I usually try to figure out what needs to change and adjust from there. It’s made me a bette r problem solver since it forces me to think outside the box.

Why do you want to work here?/ Why HECA?

What interests me about HECA is that it combines laboratory work with a real production environment. Growing up in Yakima, you always hear about the hop industry and the different factories around here. I’ve always been curious about the science behind hops and the brewing process. So the opportunity to work in a lab where I can connect that curiosity with my science background really interests me.

What previous experience do you have in a lab?

Most of my lab experience comes from my undergraduate coursework. I completed over 30 units of laboratory classes, including organic chemistry, protein biochemistry, biology, and analytical chemistry. I’ve worked with things like pipetting, spectrophotometry, protein assays, chromatography, and sample purification. I also spent about two years as a student lab assistant, which focused more on qualitative data. I haven’t worked in a professional lab before, but I feel like my education has given me a strong foundation in laboratory work and I’m excited to build on that in a professional setting.

Why are your 1 and 5 year career goals?

In the next year, I’d like to become comfortable with the procedures and equipment used in the lab and build a strong foundation in professional laboratory work. Over the next five years, I’d like to have developed much more technical experience and taken on more responsibility. I’m still figuring out exactly where I want to specialize, so right now my focus is building a strong foundation and seeing where that takes me.

Do you work well in a team? Independently?

Yes, I’m comfortable with both. As a student lab assistant, I worked with other researchers and had to communicate when we had different interpretations of the data. At the same time, my coursework required me to manage my own experiments and keep track of my work. I’m comfortable working independently, but I also know when something needs to be communicated to the team.

Why are you a good fit?/ What do you bring?

I think I bring a strong science background along with a willingness to learn. I’m comfortable following detailed procedures and paying attention to small details, but I’ve also learned how to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment. I’m early in my career, so I’m really looking for an opportunity where I can learn the right way to do things and become someone the team can rely on.

Tell me about a time something didn’t go as expected in the lab

One mistake that stands out was during a gel electrophoresis experiment. I accidentally ran the gel at the wrong voltage for the entire lab period, so by the time I realized it, the results weren’t usable and I had to start over outside of class to make them up. It was definitely frustrating, but it taught me to triple-check my equipment settings before starting an experiment, especially when it’s something timed that you can’t easily restart. Since then, I’ve been much more intentional about checking my setup before I begin.

What would you do if you got an unusual result?

I’d first go back through the procedure and check things like the sample preparation, measurements, calculations, and equipment. I’d also compare the result to the expected range or any appropriate controls. If I still couldn’t figure out what happened, I’d document what I found and ask someone more experienced rather than guessing.

How do you handle repetitive work?

I’m comfortable with repetitive work, especially when consistency is important. I understand that laboratory testing can involve running similar procedures many times, and I think repetition actually helps you become more consistent and recognize when something doesn’t look normal.

What would you do if you didn’t know how to perform a procedure?

I’d start by reviewing the SOP so I understand what I’m supposed to be doing and why. If I was still unsure, I’d ask someone experienced rather than guessing. Once I understood it, I’d practice until I could perform it consistently on my own.

If all of your background is in pharmacy, why a lab now?

I wouldn’t really say I’m switching from pharmacy to the lab because laboratory science has always been a big part of my background. My degree is in Pharmacological Chemistry, and I really enjoyed the hands-on lab work I did in school. I worked in pharmacy after graduating because I wanted to gain some professional experience, and I learned a lot from it, especially about working directly with patients. But I realized that I really want to use more of my science background, which is what led me to start looking for laboratory positions.