Sadly to say, Malaysia is not very research based. So far i notice, only universities and very little overseas or local company that are doing research here. Therefore, places for biotech students is very limited. Moreover, some research that biotech is doing, engineering is doing as well, and other science based course such as chemistry or biology are doing as well. Y not much companies out there to do research?
1st - its not very profitable (nice investment, low profit) - research is die or live
2nd - lack of support/investment (from govt or private) - we are more in industrial based (ppl invest and build factory - mostly semicon and oil and gas)
3rd - malaysia are very much far behind in terms of research compared to other countries
I do not know which field Malaysia is good at....
in terms of agricutural, we are far behind Thailand and Indonesia
in terms of biologly - this one no need to say la..haha..wayyyy back...
in terms of environment - this one also behind..we only look after our trees...
what else ah? hahaha.. not sure...
I'm a Chemical Engineering graduate, my FYP is hydrogen production from miroalgae. Imagine, this research is done way back 60 years ago...but no university currently doing this research...that's y its difficult for me to look for reference in Malaysia, i have to look and ask overseas. I think my work is kinda biotech. haha..
Anyhow, to me i think the only place for Biotech students in Malaysia for now is gonna be Masters then PHD...we are lack of lecturers i think..haha..Nevertheless, our country have a big source of any materials u want for research...very very big potential here.. hopefully some organization can bloom our biotech sector... all the best