1 min lesson
The loop at a glance
Put this idea into your own words: "A research loop has the same spine almost everywhere."
Step 1 of 3
A research loop has the same spine almost everywhere: a recruiter screen, a hiring-manager screen, a portfolio deep dive, a research challenge, a methods deep dive, a cross-functional and product round and a values conversation. What changes at Cursor is the texture - a paid, project-heavy onsite borrowed from its engineering loop and a product/craft bar that assumes you actually use the editor.
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Full explanation
The Loop, Stage by Stage
Interactive diagram. Step through it with the Next and Previous controls below, or Tab to a region to read its detail.
Step through each stage to see what it tests and where to aim your prep. The seven-stage spine is standard UXR; the paid project and product/craft weight are Cursor-inferred.
Carry the whole arc in your head before you draft a single answer. The two screens filter for motivation and mixed-methods range. The portfolio and the research challenge decide whether you can design rigorous work fast and defend it to other researchers. The product/craft round catches anyone who has read about Cursor but never lived in it.