How to Leverage Informational Interviews to Break into Biomedical Data Science

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-08-27

Quick Answer

• Use informational interviews to learn how biomedical data science roles differ across industry, academia, and government, then tailor your training and applications to the work settings you find.
• Prepare a specific question list and a clear request for advice, not a job pitch, because the goal is insight and referral pathways that are not posted publicly.
• One important limitation is that informational interviews rarely produce immediate job offers, so treat them as a long-term relationship-building practice with consistent follow-up.

At a Glance

Why Informational Interviews Matter for Biomedical Data Science

Biomedical data science sits at the intersection of biology, medicine, statistics, and computer science. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook describes related occupations such as data scientists, computer and information research scientists, and medical scientists, each with distinct education pathways and work settings. Because the field is interdisciplinary, no single degree path guarantees entry, and job postings often list a wide range of acceptable qualifications. This ambiguity makes direct conversations with practitioners especially valuable.

Informational interviews help you learn how professionals actually spend their time, which tools they use daily, and what hiring managers prioritize. The O*NET OnLine database catalogs tasks, skills, and work contexts for occupations across the economy, including those relevant to data analysis and biological research. You can use these official descriptions to prepare informed questions and to compare what you learn in interviews against standardized occupational data.

For life-science professionals, the National Institutes of Health Office of Intramural Training and Education emphasizes that career development in research settings requires active engagement with mentors and peers. Informational interviews function as a structured form of mentoring, allowing you to access the tacit knowledge that is rarely written down in job descriptions or training materials.

Understanding the Biomedical Data Science Landscape

Work Settings and Their Differences

Biomedical data scientists work in several distinct environments, and each setting has different expectations, rhythms, and advancement criteria. Academic medical centers prioritize publications and grant funding. Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies focus on product development timelines and regulatory requirements. Government agencies such as the National Science Foundation employ data scientists to support scientific programs, policy analysis, and administrative decision-making. Hospitals and health systems hire data scientists to improve clinical operations and patient outcomes.

Before you request an informational interview, identify which settings interest you most. Your questions should differ depending on the setting. An academic researcher can tell you about grant cycles and publication strategies. An industry scientist can explain how projects move from hypothesis to validated product. A government data scientist can describe how federal priorities shape research agendas.

Common Job Titles and Their Meanings

Job titles in this field are inconsistent across organizations. A "bioinformatics scientist" at one company may perform work that another organization calls "computational biologist" or "data scientist." The O*NET OnLine database provides standardized task and skill descriptions that can help you decode these titles. When you find a job posting that interests you, look up the closest O*NET occupation to understand the underlying work requirements.

During informational interviews, ask the person how their title relates to their actual responsibilities. You may discover that a title you overlooked actually matches your skills better than the title you pursued. This kind of insider knowledge is one of the most practical benefits of the informational interview process.

Preparing for Informational Interviews

Identifying the Right People to Contact

Your goal is to speak with people whose work genuinely interests you and who have relevant experience to share. Start with your existing network, including former professors, laboratory supervisors, and colleagues who have transitioned into data roles. The American Society for Microbiology Career Services offers resources for life-science professionals seeking to expand their professional networks, and similar resources exist through many professional societies.

For biomedical data science specifically, look for people who have published analyses of biological or clinical data, presented at conferences, or contributed to open-source software projects. LinkedIn and academic department websites are practical tools for identifying potential contacts. When you find someone, look for a specific reason to contact them, such as a recent publication, a talk they gave, or a project they led that relates to your interests.

Researching the Person and Their Organization

Before you send any message, spend at least 30 minutes researching the person and their organization. Read their recent publications or technical reports. Review their laboratory or team website. Understand what the organization does and how the person's work fits into the larger mission.

This preparation serves two purposes. First, it allows you to write a specific, credible outreach message. Second, it ensures that your conversation questions are informed and respectful of the person's time. The National Institutes of Health Office of Intramural Training and Education provides guidance on professional communication in research settings, and the same principles apply to informational interview outreach.

Crafting the Outreach Message

Your initial email should be brief, specific, and respectful of the person's time. State who you are, why you are contacting them specifically, and what you hope to learn. Request a short conversation, typically 20 to 30 minutes, and offer flexibility in scheduling.

Here is a practical template you can adapt:

Subject: Question about your work in [specific area]

Dear [Name],

I am a [your current role or status] with a background in [your field]. I read your recent work on [specific project or publication] and I am exploring career pathways in biomedical data science.

I would be grateful for 20 minutes of your time to learn about your work and the skills you find most valuable in this field. I am available [days and times] and happy to work around your schedule.

Thank you for considering this request.

Best regards, [Your name] [Your contact information]

Do not ask for a job, an internship, or a referral in the first message. The purpose of the outreach is to establish a conversation, not to make an immediate ask.

Conducting the Informational Interview

Structuring the Conversation

Open the conversation by thanking the person for their time and briefly restating your interest in their work. Then ask your prepared questions, but remain flexible enough to follow interesting threads. The person may share insights that you did not anticipate, and those tangents often provide the most valuable information.

Keep the conversation focused on the person's experience and perspective. This is not the time to deliver a detailed account of your own background. You can briefly summarize your situation when it is relevant, but the majority of the conversation should be spent listening and asking thoughtful follow-up questions.

Question Lists by Career Stage

For early-career professionals and students, focus on pathways and skill development:

• What educational background do most people in your role have?
• Which skills did you find most important when you started this work?
• What do you wish you had known before entering this field?
• How did you make the transition from [your background] to biomedical data science?
• What types of projects did you work on early in your career?

For mid-career professionals considering a transition, focus on transferable skills and organizational culture:

• How does your team collaborate with biologists, clinicians, and other non-data specialists?
• What aspects of your work are most and least satisfying?
• How does your organization evaluate performance and advancement?
• What technical skills are most valued in your specific work setting?
• How has your role changed over the past several years?

For researchers and laboratory staff, focus on the relationship between domain knowledge and computational work:

• How much biological or clinical domain knowledge do data scientists in your organization need?
• How do you handle situations where data analysis reveals problems with experimental design?
• What training opportunities have been most helpful for your professional development?
• How do you stay current with rapidly changing computational methods?

What to Listen For

Pay attention to the specific tools, programming languages, and analytical methods the person mentions. Note which skills they describe as essential versus nice to have. Listen for information about how projects are initiated, funded, and evaluated in their setting.

Also listen for what the person does not say. If they struggle to describe how new team members are trained, that may indicate an organization with weak onboarding processes. If they emphasize the importance of communication skills repeatedly, that is a signal about the organizational culture.

Follow-Up Strategies That Build Lasting Relationships

The Thank-You Note

Send a thank-you email within 24 hours of the conversation. Keep it brief, specific, and genuine. Mention one or two insights from the conversation that you found particularly valuable. This demonstrates that you were listening and that you respect the person's time.

Here is a practical template:

Subject: Thank you for our conversation

Dear [Name],

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about your work in [specific area]. I especially appreciated your perspective on [specific topic discussed].

Your advice about [specific insight] was particularly helpful as I consider my next steps.

I will let you know how my search progresses.

Best regards, [Your name]

Maintaining the Relationship Over Time

A single informational interview is the beginning of a relationship, not the end. The National Institutes of Health Office of Intramural Training and Education emphasizes that mentoring relationships in research careers develop over time through consistent engagement. Apply the same principle to your professional network.

Send periodic updates to people who have been helpful. Share articles or resources that relate to topics you discussed. Congratulate them on professional milestones you learn about through your network. When you make progress on a goal they helped you clarify, let them know.

The goal is to remain visible and relevant without being demanding. A brief update every few months is appropriate. More frequent contact may feel intrusive unless the person has indicated a willingness to stay in touch.

Asking for Referrals and Introductions

After you have established a genuine relationship, it is appropriate to ask for referrals to other people who might be helpful. Frame the request in terms of learning, not job hunting. For example, you might say, "I found our conversation very helpful. Do you know anyone else working in [related area] who might be willing to speak with me?"

When someone makes an introduction, follow up promptly and professionally. Send a thank-you note to both the person who made the introduction and the new contact. Keep the new contact informed about how the introduction came about so they understand the context.

Practical Implementation Steps

Step 1: Define Your Target Settings

Write down the two or three work settings that interest you most, such as academic research, pharmaceutical industry, or government. For each setting, identify the specific types of organizations and roles you want to learn about. This clarity will guide your outreach and make your requests more specific.

Step 2: Build a Contact List

Create a spreadsheet with columns for the person's name, organization, role, reason for contact, outreach date, response date, and follow-up date. Aim to identify 10 to 15 potential contacts before you begin outreach. This volume is realistic because response rates to cold outreach are typically low.

Step 3: Prepare Your Materials

Draft your outreach message and your question list before you begin contacting people. Customize each outreach message for the specific person. Prepare a brief verbal introduction of yourself that you can deliver in under one minute when the conversation begins.

Step 4: Execute Outreach in Batches

Send outreach messages in batches of three to five instead of all at once. This allows you to refine your approach based on response patterns. If you receive no responses, revise your message and try again with a different group of contacts.

Step 5: Conduct Interviews and Take Notes

During each conversation, take notes on the person's role, the skills they emphasize, and any specific advice they offer. After the conversation, write a brief summary of what you learned and how it affects your career planning. Store these notes in a consistent location for future reference.

Step 6: Follow Up and Track Progress

Send thank-you notes within 24 hours. Update your spreadsheet with the outcome of each conversation. Schedule follow-up reminders for one month and three months after each interview. Review your notes periodically to identify patterns across conversations.

Records and Measurements

What to Track

Maintain a simple tracking system to measure the effectiveness of your informational interview efforts. The O*NET OnLine database can help you understand the skills and knowledge areas that are relevant to your target roles, and your interview notes should capture how practitioners describe those same areas.

Track the following metrics:

• Number of outreach messages sent
• Number of responses received
• Number of conversations completed
• Number of referrals received
• Number of follow-up contacts maintained

These numbers will tell you whether your outreach approach is working and where you need to adjust.

How to Use Your Records

Review your records monthly to identify patterns. If you are sending many messages but receiving few responses, revise your outreach message. If you are having conversations but not receiving referrals, consider how you are asking for introductions. If you are maintaining relationships but not seeing career progress, evaluate whether your target settings align with your actual skills and interests.

Your records also serve as a professional development portfolio. When you apply for positions, you can reference insights you gained through informational interviews in your cover letters and interviews. This demonstrates initiative and genuine interest in the field.

Common Failure Patterns and How to Avoid Them

Failure Pattern 1: Treating Informational Interviews as Job Interviews

Some job seekers use informational interviews to pitch themselves and ask for jobs. This approach is counterproductive because it violates the implicit agreement of the conversation. The person agreed to share their experience, not to evaluate you as a candidate.

Avoid this pattern by keeping the focus on learning. If the person offers to connect you with hiring managers or suggests you apply for a specific position, accept the offer graciously. But do not initiate that request yourself during the first conversation.

Failure Pattern 2: Inadequate Preparation

Arriving without having researched the person or their organization wastes everyone's time. The person will quickly realize that you are not genuinely interested in their work, and they are unlikely to offer meaningful referrals.

Avoid this pattern by spending at least 30 minutes preparing for each conversation. Review the person's recent work, understand their organization's mission, and prepare specific questions that demonstrate your preparation.

Failure Pattern 3: Poor Follow-Through

Many job seekers conduct informational interviews but never follow up. This wastes the relationship and creates a negative impression. The person invested time in you, and failing to acknowledge that investment is disrespectful.

Avoid this pattern by sending thank-you notes within 24 hours and maintaining periodic contact. Even a brief update every few months keeps the relationship alive.

Failure Pattern 4: Ignoring the Person's Advice

If you ask for advice and then ignore it, you signal that you were not genuinely interested in learning. This damages your credibility and reduces the likelihood of future referrals.

Avoid this pattern by taking notes during conversations and reviewing them regularly. When you act on someone's advice, let them know. This demonstrates that you value their input and encourages them to continue supporting you.

Failure Pattern 5: Focusing Only on People Who Can Hire You

Some job seekers only contact senior people who have hiring authority. This is a mistake because junior team members often have more accurate information about daily work, team culture, and the skills that actually matter for success.

Avoid this pattern by contacting people at multiple career stages. Early-career professionals can tell you about their recent job search experience. Mid-career professionals can describe advancement pathways. Senior professionals can provide strategic perspective on the field.

Limitations and Professional Boundaries

What Informational Interviews Cannot Do

Informational interviews cannot guarantee job offers, and they should not be treated as a substitute for formal applications. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook describes the education and experience requirements for data-related occupations, and those requirements still apply regardless of your networking activity.

Informational interviews also cannot provide insider information that is confidential or proprietary. Do not ask about salary ranges, internal politics, or competitive strategies. Keep your questions focused on the person's experience and general industry knowledge.

Ethical Boundaries

Respect the person's time and boundaries. If they decline your request or do not respond, do not push. If they agree to a conversation, arrive on time and keep the conversation within the agreed duration. Do not record the conversation without explicit permission.

When you receive referrals, respect the privacy of the person who made the introduction. Do not share their contact information without permission, and do not use the introduction to bypass formal application processes in ways that could create awkwardness for the person who helped you.

When to Escalate Concerns

If you notice patterns in your informational interviews that raise concerns, such as consistent reports of unethical practices or discriminatory behavior in a particular organization, you should consider whether that organization is an appropriate target for your career. The National Science Foundation Careers page provides examples of the professional standards expected in federally funded research environments, and similar standards apply across the biomedical data science field.

If you are a student or trainee, your institution's career services office can provide additional guidance. The American Society for Microbiology Career Services and similar professional organizations offer resources for navigating career decisions and addressing workplace concerns.

Welfare and Safety Context

Data Ethics and Responsible Conduct

Biomedical data science involves working with sensitive data, including patient health information and human research subjects. The National Institutes of Health Office of Intramural Training and Education provides training resources on responsible conduct of research, and these principles apply to data science work.

During informational interviews, ask practitioners how their organizations handle data privacy, security, and ethical review. This demonstrates that you understand the professional responsibilities of the field and helps you identify organizations that take these issues seriously.

Professional Development and Continuous Learning

The field of biomedical data science evolves rapidly, and practitioners must commit to continuous learning. The O*NET OnLine database describes the ongoing learning requirements for data-related occupations, and informational interviews can help you understand how practitioners stay current.

Ask your interview contacts how they learn new methods and tools. Do they attend conferences, take online courses, read specific journals, or participate in journal clubs? Their answers will help you build your own professional development plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many informational interviews should I conduct before I start applying for jobs?

There is no fixed number that guarantees success. A practical approach is to conduct at least five to ten interviews across your target settings before you begin applying. This gives you enough information to tailor your applications and to reference specific insights in your cover letters. Continue conducting interviews even after you start applying, because each conversation can reveal new opportunities.

What if someone does not respond to my outreach message?

Non-response is common and should not be taken personally. Wait one week and send a brief follow-up message. If you still receive no response, move on to other contacts. Do not send multiple follow-up messages to the same person, as this can create a negative impression.

Should I send my resume before the informational interview?

Generally, no. The purpose of the conversation is to learn about the person's work and the field, not to be evaluated as a candidate. Sending a resume can shift the conversation into an informal job interview, which is not what you requested. If the person asks for your resume, you can provide it, but do not offer it unsolicited.

Can I ask for a referral to a hiring manager during the informational interview?

You can ask for referrals to other people who might be helpful for your learning, but you should not ask for referrals to hiring managers during the first conversation. After you have established a genuine relationship and demonstrated that you value the person's advice, it is appropriate to ask if they know of any opportunities that might be a good fit for your background.

How do I handle an informational interview with someone who seems busy or distracted?

Respect their time by keeping the conversation focused and within the agreed duration. If the person seems distracted, do not take it personally. Some people are simply busy. End the conversation politely, thank them for their time, and follow up with a thank-you note. If the conversation was not productive, you do not need to maintain the relationship.

What should I do if the informational interview reveals that the field is not a good fit for me?

This is a valuable outcome, even if it is disappointing. The purpose of informational interviews is to learn, and learning that a particular path is not right for you saves you time and effort. Thank the person for their honesty, reflect on what you learned, and use that insight to refine your career direction.

How do I ask for an informational interview if I have no prior connection to the person?

Cold outreach is acceptable if it is specific and respectful. Reference something concrete about the person's work, explain why you are contacting them specifically, and make a clear, limited request for their time. Be prepared for a low response rate, and do not be discouraged if most of your messages go unanswered.

Should I offer to buy coffee or lunch for the person I am interviewing?

Offering to meet at a coffee shop is common, but you should not insist on paying. The person is doing you a favor by sharing their time, and they may prefer a phone or video call. Follow their preference. If you do meet in person, offering to buy their coffee is a polite gesture, but do not make it awkward if they decline.

Using the Evidence

Related Articles

• Conducting Qualitative Interviews: A Guide for Life Science Researchers
• Veterinary Interview Questions: How to Prepare for Vet School and Job Interviews
• Biomedical Data Science Master's Programs: A Guide to Curriculum and Career Outcomes
• Choosing the Best Online Data Science Master's for Life Sciences Professionals
• Research Assistant Careers in Life Science

References and Further Reading

• Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• O*NET OnLine. U.S. Department of Labor.
• Office of Intramural Training and Education. National Institutes of Health.
• Careers at NSF. U.S. National Science Foundation.
• Career Services. American Society for Microbiology.
• AAVMC Career Resources. Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.
• NCBI Literature Resources. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• PubMed. National Library of Medicine.

This article is educational and does not replace institutional policy, professional advice, or applicable safety and regulatory requirements.