The first interview was with the PI of the lab I applied for. This interview went very well and the job description was very attractive. It lasted about two and a half hours, and he invited me to come back and meet with two other associates in the lab. This is when it started to go down hill. During the second interview, the associates made it seem like the lab had very little work-life balance and badmouthed different people who were working in the lab. They could not come up with any other benefits of taking the job other than the reason of, "The [PI] can give a great reference!" Then, after not hearing anything for a full week, the PI messages me the offer, almost 20k below the agreed upon amount. The offer was so low, that after taxes, the salary would be below the poverty line, for a position that required specialized experience and a higher degree. Sad, because the job itself was my dream job, if the job itself could get a rating: 5/5, the people however, kind of ruined it with their unpleasantness and dishonesty.

I interviewed in a two-round style, first with program administration and then with program leaders. Questions were primarily focused on my experience, along with some questions about my qualifications that directly spoke to the role I was applying for .