A couple tidbits from an interviewer to hopefully make that dread go away (at least partially!):
1. It is 100% okay to be awkward during a one-on-one interview. In fact, many times the interviewer themselves will be feeling more awkward than you do. As long as you are able to talk enthusiastically about your science and are sincere in doing so, you will be fine. There are scientists at all levels from PhD students to Nobel Laureates who are awkward, and the interview process itself is awkward and uncomfortable in general!
2. I have never heard of someone being rejected post-interview because they are awkward or uncomfortable or nervous in one-on-one conversations. The most common reasons that pop up would be you cannot actually talk about the research you listed in your SOP, you are not friendly or even remotely cordial with the interviewer, you say something that is an immediate red flag (such as questioning why you want to do a PhD or saying something racist), or you do not show enthusiasm for pursuing a PhD, science, etc.
3. We love it when an interviewee really gets excited about something during an interview. It can be your research, the PIs research, a hobby, etc. If you can latch on to something that excites you, you can really cut through that awkwardness. If it is something in your own research, that is especially beneficial as you will be able to bring it up in each interview.
4. If you are a coffee drinker, do not drink a ton of coffee before you interviews. It sounds weird, but that can really exacerbate the nerves before a one-on-one interview.
5. The interviews themselves are more like conversations. There isn't a preset list of questions that we ask in a row. I have three questions that I will always try to ask and let the conversation develop from there. It doesn't always go that way, but even with the most awkward interviewees (think someone shaking and barely able to speak they are so nervous) I find you can always cut through any awkwardness as long as the interviewee actually wants to be there and has an interest in doing a PhD at that institution.
One final thing: Don't get discouraged if your first PI interview doesn't go 100% perfect. My first PI interview I attended years ago went truly horrifically (I developed a stutter I was so nervous), but I still managed to get into (and attend) that institution. We expect you to be nervous at first. Every PI interview you do, you will get better and better at it. A lot of the times, in the beginning we ask the recruits how they feel and they are universally terrified, whereas by the end of the the first set of interviews they find them relatively relaxing and sometimes even fun.
I hope this helps a little!
HUSKYLEO got a reaction from catsareme in 2018 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results