I applied through college or university. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) in Jan 2015
Interview
The interview took one week. I was interviewed by the professor who would give corresponding lecture for 30 minutes. The questions were designed to test my understanding on energy policy and energy security. Professor was very friendly, and we had a pleasure conversation.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What do you know about energy policy? How do you find China's energy policy?
Straightforward, collegial, and efficient. The process was clear and laid out in terms that I could understand. And everything I learned about the process along the way was delivered in a friendly and professional manner. This created an efficient process overall with good feelings along the way.
I applied in-person. I interviewed at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) in Feb 2015
Interview
You have to contact professors yourself, introduce yourself, and wait to hear back. If they have a position available they'll call you in for a meeting and ask basic questions like why you're interested in the job and why you're qualified.