Interview questions for funded PhD

[Passerillage]

I have an interview in a week's time for a funded PhD on a bigger project in history. I'd be working on the archives of a minor late 19th century anthropologist, and the angle I am taking is intellectual milieu (i.e. was she influenced by the work of XYZ other famous big names among her peer group and how does this affect how we should read her work/notebooks/archival material). Other candidates have pitched angles related to things like architecture, pottery, textiles. I stand by my angle as the most interesting.

What are the WORST interview questions you would ask me if you were on the panel and just hated me on sight?

My partner is an academic and has given me a list of potential questions, but I'd love to know what other academics might ask if they wanted to unbalance me.

Sounds like a fascinating project! My generic list of interview questions (some will be more relevant than others, and I'm rarely feeling mean enough to ask 6!). I also often ask what is the very first thing you will do on the project to hit the ground running. Good luck!

Thank you enormously! That’s really helpful.

(I’ve changed some details of the project to protect the innocent!)

What is your chosen methodology and why?
Talk me thru your previous research experience
Do you have experience of working in a team on research
What will you do if this interview is not successful

Also - tell me about your past research?
what was the aim of the project?
what method did you use?
what did you find out?
if you were to start again, what would you do differently?

The interview went brilliantly but sadly the funding went to someone much more qualified than me. The questions were VERY helpful, though, thank you all

But I could still do the PhD anyway (govt loan), so am thinking that over now. I really love the topic.

Don't do a self funded PhD unless you really have money to burn. It is hard work and expensive and only 5%!of people who start a PhD end up with a permanent academic job.

Sorry to be harsh but I have seen too many students burn their money and their energy on a self funded PhD that doesn't take them anywhere.