Here's how you can showcase your problem-solving skills during an R&D interview.

R&D work may include, research to understand a phenomenon or develop new theories. Applied research to solve specific problems or create new products. Development of prototypes, testing, and iteration. Collaboration with academia, government, or industry partners to build platforms for specific agenda / causes. This will help to achieve the following goals: - Creating new products, services, or processes or improving existing ones - Optimize costs, increasing efficiency, Improve quality and performance - Be market competitive and innovative

Give examples of previous experiences you have encountered. Describe the steps you took to analyze the issue and the creative solutions you implemented to overcome it. Understanding and familiarity with new situations and innovation, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to convey concepts and persuade people will convince the interviewer that they can work with you on an evaluation project to prove your claim.

Apart from the usual things like meticulous understanding of the problem, reasoning for solution discovery, and analytical skills, it is additionally imperative that we do an impact assessment of suggested solutions. This will, and especially in an entrepreneurial establishment, allow one to find the perfect balance between research related costs and resource to be invested for scaling-up.

Mention the name of complex products which are approved as an ANDA or MA and how you successfully accomplished this organisational goal as a Team.(No confidential information to be shared). Once person spent quality time in good 2-3 organisation then no need to undergo scientific interviews, just let them know that there is no product in this world whose generic development is not possible, this opportunity is equally available for all scientists who are passionate in delivery of complex products in stipulated timeline.

Problem solving skill require following steps and I think it’s universal for for all issues 1- understnad the concept or requirement 2- understand the targets 3- understand the system 4- devide the systemin to processes 5- understand link of each process to main system 6- identify the problematic process 7- rectify the problem integrate with system 8- implement the system 9- check the efficiency.

One thing I've found helpful is to justify every point you are saying. If you are saying problem solving is one of your strengths, follow it up with an example justifying why you feel so. Preferably select a problem which is relevant to the position you are interviewing for. If the interviewer can relate to the problem and your proposed solution, nothing like it!

Highlight real experience of projects you have worked on, don't pretend to have worked on projects as you will get caught out.

R&D interviews require candidates to give experiential based examples about challenges one has solved in their present company and how it overlaps with the applied one. This gives confidence to the interviewees. Also staying calm and listening to questions carefully is important.

During an interview, you get a chance to talk about your experience in R&D. You can bring up a few real life experiences how you were successful in some of the projects you’ve worked on. Also share the learnings you’ve acquired during your work, so the panel would know that you’re not only a mere developer, but you’re a learner and a thinker. It’s perfectly okay to fail in R&D, bend your learnings would be more important than some wins.

When discussing past experiences, it’s important to focus on instances that showcase your problem-solving abilities. I remember tackling a difficult issue by researching various solutions and successfully implementing the most effective one. Relating such experiences to the potential challenges of the R&D role can significantly strengthen your interview responses.

Critical thinking (CT) is one of the most desired skills of a pharmacy graduate but there are many challenges to students thinking critically including their own perceptions, poor metacognitive skills, a fixed mindset, a non-automated skillset, heuristics, biases and the fact that thinking is effortful. Though difficult, developing CT skills is not impossible. Research and practice suggest several factors that can improve one’s thinking ability: a thoughtful learning environment, seeing or hearing what is done to executive cognitive operations that students can emulate, and guidance and support of their efforts until they can perform on their own.

Critical thinking is essential in R&D, and I’ve consistently applied this skill in my work. For example, when faced with a complex data set, I meticulously analyzed the information, considering multiple variables to make an informed decision. This methodical approach to problem-solving is what employers look for in R&D candidates, as it demonstrates the capacity to navigate intricate challenges.

The initial steps on an R&D project are often the most critical elements user needs and requirements need to be unambiguous as possible. Often there is unrealistic expectations for timescales so time spent on critical path planning is a worth while investment. As you move into the concept and or detail design phases take the time to develop solid documentation such as risk analysis or stress analysis iteration is key. Also think clearly about the testing, verification and validation requirements. What are the critical test attributes.

Think like a champion..!!! R&D thrives on critical thinkers. Share past experiences where you analyzed data, considered all angles, and made smart choices. Show how you weigh options, predict outcomes, and solve problems step-by-step. This proves you can tackle complex R&D challenges!

How do you think deeply? Having a good night sleep, eating healthy, having healthy habits and most importantly reading/ learning / engaging and building your reservoir of knowledge and understanding. It makes you able to apply your knowledge in addressing a need and become a critical thinker. Being a problem solver needs constant practicing and deep thinking, you cultivate it as a habit to always problem solve and you naturally become better at it.

What I love to hear during an interview is not necessarily what the candidate has done (important too, of course), but what a candidate would do in our company. That shows commitment (they have researched our interests and programs) and effort that they devoted time and effort to think of what would be useful for us. Eventually, this is what we want them to do once hired, isn't it?

Cultivating a culture of creativity and improvement is vital for progress. Strategies to follow : Identify the opportunity of the problem, Ask good questions, consider all options, think laterally, and very important, apply a blend of knowledge, practical experience, technologies, literature to solve problems creatively instead adopt alternate available information/methods/literature directly.

I think R&D projects are becoming more multidisciplinary with intertwined technology solutions. For me, materials science in composites has been a passion, but I started out as a mechanical engineer. That interdisciplinary experience has allowed me to see solutions that others may not associate. In one material troubleshooting case I had a customer with a narrow RTM professing window. a slight variation in the resin was a problem. They knew this and could correct, but were still running up against frequent scrap. Turned out to be a combination of tool design, viscosity and resin age. I recommend young engineers to focus in a discipline but learn a second. You will approach problems with a different mindset.

Close your eyes and think about the most difficult problem you've ever solved. This could be a practical or a theoretical problem. Now, think about all the ways you thought about solving that problem. What were the initial steps you took when approaching the problem? How did you analyze and break down the problem into manageable parts? What challenges did you encounter along the way, and how did you overcome them? Did you collaborate with others or seek outside expertise to solve the problem? And once you have the answer to these questions you can finally showcase your problem-solving skills during an R&D interview by talking about what you learned from solving this difficult problem and how you can apply that to future challenges!

Creativity is key to problem solving. Thinking 'outside the box' keeps you from repeating the same mistakes. The how and why of development is really what drives new and innovative ideas. I have always really enjoyed figuring out how to do something different with manufacturing kit or standard ingredients, is there something it wasn't designed for that it can do? Surrounding yourself with people who also like to think differently and get excited about problem solving is such a boon as well.

The current R&D is predominantly collaborative. No global problems can be solved by one person or one organization. Neither can one nation. Many R&D people used to be nerds who often lacked or were not interested in social skills or interactions. However, research should be done for people, not for the research itself, and researchers should have a warm heart rather than a cold one. To be a great collaborator, 1) listen actively to others' opinions and ideas, 2) think about us rather than me, 3) focus on the (global) problem and the solutions' impact rather than our own reputation or promotion, and 4) give your time, love, empathy, resource, and forgiveness. Especially, giving is the foundation of change. Simply, don't be an asshole.

Most of the present day industrial problems are multi-disciplined in nature with no obvious and/or solutions. Hence, it is very important to manage the stakeholders and be able to work with the concept of Natural Teams where the members will be from different departments/ disciplines, with varying expertise. Hence, it is crucial to be able to share the problem solving skills in such an environment while highlighting own contribution. Be prepared with such examples before the discussion.

Team collaboration is the most important part in problem solving. During development of critical product you need a team of people who understands each other requirement and support accordingly. People from diversified strengths works as a team and collaborate will give miracle results in problem solving.

Illustrate your ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams by discussing past experiences where you worked closely with colleagues from diverse backgrounds to solve complex problems in R&D settings. Highlight instances where you facilitated productive teamwork, leveraged each team member's strengths, and fostered a supportive and inclusive environment for idea exchange and collaboration. Describe how you communicated effectively, listened actively, and resolved conflicts constructively to achieve common goals. Provide examples of successful projects where strong team collaboration contributed to innovative solutions, accelerated progress, and delivered impactful outcomes in your R&D work.

This is an essential skill to demonstrate if you are being positioned as a leader of teams and projects. Communication should be clear and a warmth should be shown towards others. Rarely can you hide this in an interview and it is essential in my opinion for a leader unless a specific subject matter contribution is being made - even so team skills are trained into industrial scientists as much as is possible within each persons interest to be involved with others.

This dynamic exchange allows you to paint a vivid picture of how your skills and experience could uniquely benefit the team, setting you apart as a proactive and intellectually curious candidate.

In my experience, asking insightful follow-up questions in an R&D interview can significantly enhance your candidacy. For instance, during my last interview, I inquired about the company’s current R&D challenges and discussed potential solutions, demonstrating my proactive thinking and deep interest in contributing to the company’s goals. This approach not only showcased my problem-solving skills but also my eagerness to engage with real-world issues from day one.

Explain the methodological approach you take towards problem-solving, emphasizing systematic analysis, hypothesis testing & iterative refinement. In one of my interviews, I detailed how I applied the Six Sigma methodology to decrease variability in the manufacturing process of a biotech product. I discussed how defining, measuring, analysing, improving & controlling (DMAIC) phases were crucial in solving the issue, which underscored my rigorous and structured approach to problem-solving. Highlight your ability to work with cross-functional teams to solve complex problems. One such collaboration led to a redesign of a cooling system, which not only solved the overheating, but also reduced manufacturing costs by 15%.

Having a right scientific background in problem solving is a key element. Include your critical thinking by showing, your past knowledge and experience on how you found innovative solution to a problem. What challenges and setback were you had to solve or by pass. Another key element is to show how well you can communicate among your colleagues and costumers. Several years ago when I was working in the industry a marketing colleague without being knowledgeable about a process of manufacturing had promised a costumer something impossible to be achieved using a robotic arm. When he returned to see the whole system, he was not happy with the result and made noise, I had to sit and explain scientifically why we couldn't include what he wanted!

Based on my experience, what's essential is a passion for innovation. Humans possess incredible potential to utilize their intellect to the fullest extent. The key is to have a thirst for learning and accomplishment. With that determination, you can overcome any obstacle. Despite consistently engaging in engineering projects, I never believed I could obtain a patent because I assumed my predecessors had already explored all possibilities. However, that mindset changed when I realized the importance of forging new paths. To excel in research and development, one must constantly think critically, explore various avenues, analyze findings, and execute solutions. As a result, I successfully registered my first invention disclosure.

Especially if you are looking at a Senior role it is important to extend the demonstration of problem solving ability to include examples of how you decide which problems to solve and, more critically, which problems not to solve. Giving examples that show an understanding of the customer and business drivers for the decision and effective cost/benefit analysis demonstrates an understanding of impact and value that is crucial in this sort of decision making.

I usually explain how I consider myself an analytical thinker who thrives on understanding the "why" behind decisions. I believe constantly questioning choices allows for a deeper understanding of their potential consequences. Evaluating both opportunities and risks associated with a choice allows me to approach it with a comprehensive perspective.