Quantitative Researcher Interview Experience — Stopping Rules and an Adversarial Card Game

A STEM postdoctoral researcher on the West Coast reports receiving a phone-interview invitation two days after applying broadly. The author found the interviewer unfriendly and describes only a brief background discussion before the technical questions.

The first problem concerned when to stop accumulating rewards from repeated die rolls, with a losing outcome that erased the accumulated amount. A follow-up changed that penalty so the first occurrence reset the score and the next ended play. The second problem asked how to choose a card distribution against an opponent who knew its composition and selected guesses to minimize the payments they would make. The author regarded the interview as particularly focused on game theory. The report provides no hiring outcome.