20+ Trainee Research Associate Interview Questions and Answers

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms.

• Enzymes are made up of proteins and are highly specific in their function.

• They lower the activation energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

• Enzymes are classified based on the type of reaction they catalyze, such as hydrolases, oxidoreductases, and transferases.

• Examples of enzymes include amylase, which breaks down starch, and lactase, which breaks down lactose.

Discipline is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior.

• Discipline helps in achieving goals and success.

• It helps in maintaining order and structure in personal and professional life.

• It teaches self-control and responsibility.

• Examples of discipline include following a daily routine, meeting deadlines, and adhering to workplace policies.

• Discipline is important in all aspects of life, including education, sports, and the military.

Pinacol pinacolone rearrangement is a reaction in which a pinacol rearranges to form a ketone.

• Involves the rearrangement of a 1,2-diol to a ketone

• Requires an acidic catalyst such as sulfuric acid

• Named after the starting material (pinacol) and the product (pinacolone)

• Used in organic synthesis to form complex molecules

Fermentation is a metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol.

• Fermentation is an anaerobic process

• It is used in the production of alcoholic beverages like beer and wine

• It is also used in the production of bread, yogurt, and cheese

• Fermentation can be carried out by microorganisms like yeast and bacteria

• It is an important process in the field of biotechnology

TLC stands for Thin Layer Chromatography. Polar solvents like methanol, ethanol, and water are used as mobile phase for non-polar stationary phase. Non-polar solvents like hexane, toluene, and chloroform are used as mobile phase for polar stationary phase.

• TLC is a chromatography technique used to separate and identify compounds in a mixture.

• It involves a stationary phase (usually a thin layer of silica gel or alumina) and a mobile phase (solvent).

• The stationary phase is polar...read more

A set of questions related to clinical research and pharmacology.

• AE refers to Adverse Event, any undesirable experience associated with the use of a medical product.

• ADR stands for Adverse Drug Reaction, any response to a drug that is noxious and unintended.

• Causality is the relationship between an event (the cause) and a second event (the effect), where the second event is a result of the first.

• MedDRA is a medical terminology used to classify adverse event information associat...read more

The density difference between ethyl acetate, water, and DCM varies due to their different molecular weights and intermolecular forces.

• Ethyl acetate has a lower density than water and DCM due to its lower molecular weight.

• DCM has a higher density than water and ethyl acetate due to its higher molecular weight.

• The intermolecular forces between the molecules also affect the density difference.

• For example, hydrogen bonding between water molecules increases its density compared t...read more

A name reaction is a chemical reaction named after its discoverer or developer. Solve it with given reactant.

• Grignard reaction: RMgX + H2O -> R-OH + Mg(OH)X

• Friedel-Crafts reaction: R-X + AlCl3 -> R-C6H5

• Buchwald-Hartwig reaction: Ar-NH2 + R-X -> Ar-R + NH3 + X

• Suzuki-Miyaura reaction: Ar-B(OH)2 + R-X -> Ar-R + B(OH)3 + X

• Heck reaction: Ar-X + R-CH=CH2 -> Ar-R + HX

• Diels-Alder reaction: C6H10 + C6H6 -> C12H12

• Wittig reaction: Ph3P=CH2 + R-Br -> Ph3P=O + R-CH=CH2

• Claisen condensation...read more

The energy of the orbital of hydrogen atoms depends on the principal quantum number and can be calculated using the formula -13.6 eV/n^2.

• The energy of the orbital is inversely proportional to the square of the principal quantum number (n).

• The energy levels of hydrogen atoms are quantized and can be represented by the formula E = -13.6 eV/n^2.

• The energy of the orbital decreases as the principal quantum number increases.

• The lowest energy level is associated with the ground stat...read more

Grignard reaction

• Named after French chemist Victor Grignard

• Involves the reaction of an organomagnesium compound with a carbonyl compound

• Forms a new carbon-carbon bond

• Used in the synthesis of various organic compounds

• Example: Grignard reaction between phenylmagnesium bromide and formaldehyde to form benzoic acid

Molarity is the concentration of a solution expressed as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. Normality is the concentration of a solution expressed as the number of equivalents of solute per liter of solution.

• Molarity is a measure of the number of moles of solute per liter of solution.

• It is represented by the symbol 'M'.

• For example, a 1 M solution of sodium chloride contains one mole of sodium chloride per liter of solution.

• Normality is a measure of the numbe...read more

The IUPAC name of an organic compound is a systematic way of naming it based on its structure.

• The name is based on the longest carbon chain in the molecule

• Functional groups are indicated by suffixes or prefixes

• Numbering of the carbon chain starts from the end closest to the functional group

• Examples include ethane (C2H6) and methanol (CH3OH)

Core competencies are unique strengths and capabilities that give a company a competitive advantage in the market.

• Core competencies are specific skills, knowledge, and abilities that distinguish a company from its competitors.

• They are the collective learning in the organization, especially how to coordinate diverse production skills and integrate multiple streams of technologies.

• Examples of core competencies include innovation, customer service, quality control, and efficient...read more

During college, I worked on various research techniques including data analysis, literature review, experimental design, and statistical analysis.

• Data analysis: Utilized software like SPSS or Excel to analyze research data.

• Literature review: Conducted thorough reviews of existing literature to inform research projects.

• Experimental design: Designed and implemented experiments to test hypotheses.

• Statistical analysis: Used statistical methods to interpret research findings and d...read more

Microbiology growth phases include lag phase, log phase, stationary phase, and death phase.

• Lag phase: cells adapt to new environment, no growth

• Log phase: exponential growth, maximum growth rate

• Stationary phase: growth rate slows, nutrients deplete

• Death phase: cells start to die off

Various types of media are used for cell culture, including DMEM, RPMI, MEM, and FBS.

• Different types of media are used for different cell types and purposes

• Common media include DMEM, RPMI, MEM, and FBS

• Media composition can vary based on cell requirements

The drug approval process involves several stages of testing and evaluation before a drug can be approved for use.

• The process begins with preclinical testing on animals to determine safety and efficacy.

• If the results are promising, the drug moves on to clinical trials in humans, which are conducted in three phases.

• After successful completion of clinical trials, the drug can be submitted for FDA approval.

• The FDA reviews the drug's safety and efficacy data before deciding wheth...read more

Phases of clinical trials are crucial for testing safety and efficacy of new drugs.

• Phase 1: Small group of healthy volunteers to test safety and dosage

• Phase 2: Larger group of patients to test efficacy and side effects

• Phase 3: Even larger group of patients to confirm efficacy, monitor side effects, and compare to existing treatments

• Phase 4: Post-marketing surveillance to monitor long-term effects and safety in larger population

HPLC columns are classified based on the stationary phase material and particle size.

• HPLC columns can be classified as normal phase, reverse phase, ion exchange, size exclusion, and affinity columns.

• Normal phase columns use a polar stationary phase, while reverse phase columns use a non-polar stationary phase.

• Ion exchange columns separate based on charge, size exclusion columns separate based on size, and affinity columns separate based on specific interactions.

• Examples of HP...read more

I have recently worked on a project analyzing the impact of social media on consumer behavior.

• Analyzed data from various social media platforms to identify trends and patterns

• Conducted surveys to gather insights on consumer preferences and behavior

• Collaborated with marketing team to develop strategies based on research findings

PCB design steps involve schematic design, component placement, routing, and manufacturing preparation.

• Create a schematic diagram of the circuit

• Place components on the PCB layout

• Route connections between components

• Perform design rule checks

• Generate manufacturing files for production