Questions to Ask Scientists
Engaging questions to connect with researchers, understand their work, and explore the fascinating world of scientific discovery.
1What got you interested in science and what inspired you to become a researcher?
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What got you interested in science and what inspired you to become a researcher?
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Why this works
Reveals their motivation and shows what drew them to scientific research, helping you understand their passion and drive.
2What is your current research focused on and what questions are you trying to answer?
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What is your current research focused on and what questions are you trying to answer?
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Why this works
Shows their current work and reveals what scientific problems they're investigating and what they hope to discover.
3What is the most exciting discovery you've made in your research?
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What is the most exciting discovery you've made in your research?
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Why this works
Reveals their research highlights and shows what findings they're most proud of and what impact they've had.
4How do you approach scientific problems and what is your research methodology?
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How do you approach scientific problems and what is your research methodology?
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Why this works
Shows their scientific approach and reveals how they design experiments and analyze data to answer research questions.
5What are the biggest challenges you face in your research and how do you overcome them?
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What are the biggest challenges you face in your research and how do you overcome them?
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Why this works
Reveals the obstacles they encounter and shows how they handle setbacks and maintain their research momentum.
6What is your favorite aspect of scientific research and what makes it rewarding?
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What is your favorite aspect of scientific research and what makes it rewarding?
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Why this works
Shows what they enjoy most about their work and reveals what aspects of research they find most fulfilling.
7How do you stay current with scientific literature and what sources do you trust?
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How do you stay current with scientific literature and what sources do you trust?
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Why this works
Reveals their approach to staying informed and shows what journals and sources they use to keep up with scientific developments.
8What is your approach to collaboration and how do you work with other researchers?
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What is your approach to collaboration and how do you work with other researchers?
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Why this works
Shows their teamwork skills and reveals how they build relationships and collaborate with other scientists.
9What are your thoughts on scientific communication and how do you share your research?
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What are your thoughts on scientific communication and how do you share your research?
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Why this works
Reveals their approach to sharing knowledge and shows how they communicate their findings to different audiences.
10What is your approach to scientific ethics and how do you ensure responsible research?
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What is your approach to scientific ethics and how do you ensure responsible research?
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Why this works
Shows their commitment to ethical research and reveals how they handle ethical considerations in their work.
11What are your thoughts on the future of your field and what developments do you expect?
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What are your thoughts on the future of your field and what developments do you expect?
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Why this works
Reveals their vision for their field and shows what trends and developments they think will shape future research.
12How do you handle scientific uncertainty and what is your approach to dealing with unknowns?
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How do you handle scientific uncertainty and what is your approach to dealing with unknowns?
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Why this works
Shows their approach to uncertainty and reveals how they handle the inherent uncertainty in scientific research.
13What is your approach to scientific funding and how do you secure research support?
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What is your approach to scientific funding and how do you secure research support?
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Why this works
Reveals their funding strategies and shows how they navigate the competitive world of scientific funding.
14What are your thoughts on scientific education and how do you mentor students?
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What are your thoughts on scientific education and how do you mentor students?
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Why this works
Shows their commitment to education and reveals how they train and mentor the next generation of scientists.
15What is your approach to scientific publishing and how do you choose where to publish?
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What is your approach to scientific publishing and how do you choose where to publish?
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Why this works
Reveals their publishing strategy and shows how they decide where to share their research findings.
16What are your thoughts on scientific innovation and how do you encourage creativity?
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What are your thoughts on scientific innovation and how do you encourage creativity?
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Why this works
Shows their approach to innovation and reveals how they foster creative thinking and novel approaches in their research.
17What is your approach to scientific failure and how do you learn from setbacks?
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What is your approach to scientific failure and how do you learn from setbacks?
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Why this works
Reveals their resilience and shows how they handle research failures and use them as learning opportunities.
18What are your thoughts on scientific diversity and how do you promote inclusion?
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What are your thoughts on scientific diversity and how do you promote inclusion?
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Why this works
Shows their commitment to diversity and reveals how they work to create inclusive research environments.
19What is your approach to scientific mentorship and how do you guide junior researchers?
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What is your approach to scientific mentorship and how do you guide junior researchers?
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Why this works
Reveals their mentoring philosophy and shows how they support and guide early-career scientists.
20What are your thoughts on the impact of your research and how do you measure success?
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What are your thoughts on the impact of your research and how do you measure success?
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Why this works
Shows their approach to impact and reveals how they evaluate the success and significance of their research.
Best Practices for Connecting with Scientists
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Show Genuine Interest
Ask follow-up questions about their research and show authentic curiosity about their scientific work and discoveries.
Respect Their Time
Be mindful of their busy schedules and don't overwhelm them with questions during busy research periods.
Learn About Their Field
Take time to understand their research area and ask informed questions that show you've done your homework.
Question Sequences
The Research Discovery Sequence
The Scientific Process Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Ask for Free Research
Avoid asking scientists to do research for free or to provide scientific analysis without compensation.
Avoid Oversimplifying
Don't oversimplify their research or ask them to explain complex concepts in overly simple terms.
Don't Interrupt Their Work
Be respectful of their research time and don't ask questions that might disrupt their experiments or analysis.