Tell me about a time when you had to deal with conflicting priorities. How did you handle it?

In my previous role as a Research Assistant, I often had to deal with conflicting priorities due to multiple projects running simultaneously. One particular instance stands out when I had to work on optimizing a bioprocessing technique while also assisting with the scale-up of another project. To handle this, I first assessed the urgency and importance of each task. I then prioritized the project that had strict deadlines and immediate impact. I communicated with my team and supervisor to inform them about the conflicting priorities and discussed possible solutions. By delegating certain tasks and reallocating resources, we were able to manage both projects effectively. It required careful planning, time management, and coordination between team members. Ultimately, we successfully completed the optimization project while meeting the scale-up milestones. This experience taught me the value of effective communication, adaptability, and the ability to make informed decisions under pressure.

During my time as a Research Assistant, I faced a situation where I had to deal with conflicting priorities. We were in the process of optimizing a bioprocessing technique, which required extensive lab work and data analysis. At the same time, I was asked to assist in the scale-up of another project. To handle this, I first created a detailed timeline and prioritized the tasks based on their deadlines and importance. I communicated with my team members and supervisor, explaining the situation and seeking their input. We decided to allocate more resources to the optimization project to ensure timely completion while keeping the scale-up project on track. I utilized my time management and organizational skills to efficiently allocate my own time between the two projects, setting aside specific blocks for each task. Additionally, I remained adaptable to changes in project requirements by constantly evaluating and adjusting the timeline and priorities as needed. As a result, we successfully completed the optimization project, meeting all objectives, and made significant progress in the scale-up project as well.

As a Process Development Scientist, I encountered conflicting priorities while working on a project to improve the bioprocessing efficiency. At the same time, I was assigned to support a critical scale-up process that had strict timelines. To handle this, I first analyzed the requirements and dependencies of both projects. I recognized that the scale-up process was time-sensitive and crucial for the overall production timeline. Therefore, I proactively communicated with the project managers and proposed a plan to temporarily shift my focus to the scale-up process while ensuring continued progress on the efficiency improvement project. I collaborated with the team members involved in each project to delegate responsibilities and allocate resources effectively. I demonstrated adaptability by adjusting my schedule and working extended hours to meet the deadlines of both projects. Additionally, I utilized my analytical and problem-solving abilities to streamline the bioprocessing efficiency and identify areas of improvement, which indirectly benefited the scale-up process. As a result of my proactive approach and effective coordination, we successfully completed both projects within the desired timelines and achieved significant improvements in process efficiency and scalability.