Answer
15
Work Step by Step
Given 5 applicants for 1 chemistry position and 3 applicants for 1 statistics position.
As we are required to calculate the number of configurations, and order doesn't matter, we need to use combinations. Hence the answer is computed by multiplying ($5_{C_{1}}$) ways to fill the chemistry spot and ($3_{C_{1}}$) for the statistics position.
Hence, ans = $3_{C_{1}}$*$5_{C_{1}}$=3*5=15
