I have started talking with FB and they want to have non-coding interview related to my PhD thesis first. I was like what? I have 5 yoe and happen to have PhD too. Do they jump to on-site after this non-coding interview? I absolutely don’t want to be consider as a new grad!
Sounds normal. Both when interviewing with Apple and Amazon my onsites have started with a presentation of my PHD work. 5 YOE after PhD.
This is not onsite. This first phone call that usually is coding
The real reason is they want to make sure you can actually code, and have a coding background. I think we're getting more and more applicants with CS PhDs (especially in things like ML) who may have lots of domain knowledge but little to no coding experience, so they're probably just trying to filter those people out. With your background you shouldn't have any issues though.
I don’t have any issues with that AND I want it to happen asap!
Your head is too much into hammering leetcode. Get out of it. This is normal for research oriented roles.
Dude they are interested in your PhD work. Go for it. Nothing to do with coding or not. Research scientists make more money and have more prestige.