Start with the real-world question or decision your research addresses, then explain the obstacle and your contribution in plain language.

The interviewer does not need the full methodology. They need to understand why the problem was hard, how you approached it, and what changed because of your work.

Use one technical detail only if it demonstrates rigor, creativity, or scale, and immediately translate what that detail means.

A useful test is whether an intelligent non-specialist can summarize the project after hearing your explanation. If not, simplify the mechanism while preserving the difficulty and impact.