Ok, I am a biotech graduate (BSc Hons.), my work is about bioinformatics!

Yes, there is a learning curve. My degree and honours year did not teach me programming langauges and IT skills too, i'm more to biochemistry research and lab work, not to the biotech side and not to the bioinfo side too.
But it is good enough if you have the cell biology basic, just have to learn the IT part (thats what im doing now everyday, and to be honest, its tough!)

Have you been to interview anyway? Do you mean the interviewers said that you are not eligible because you don't know java and perl?

Hmm, Im pretty surprised that they will say that. Well its true that they prefer people with real bioinfo background, but the fact is this type of expertise is too limited in msia. So most of the companies will take in biotech/biochem/genetics graduates. (and you have a masters! that should be an add point) May I know which company you went for interview, if you dont mind

For me, my seniors in the company are guiding me but since they are really busy, lots of self learning too. I guess you can start with good bioinfo books, and follow the steps and do it on your own computer (softwares needed by the way). And google is your best friend too, always google!

I am a beginner in bioinfo too, cant give you much advice, sorry. But back to the biotech graduates' fate in msia, in my humble opinion, there are jobs available when you really look and do your homework. Many companies don't advertise, so you need to google a lot, go to their website, email them....etc. just try your best, thats what I think.



This post has been edited by rach_: May 21 2010, 09:54 AM

Yes good idea. Just send in your resume to anywhere. Good Luck

Haha, I was about to say: you did not check the job opportunities in the market before you decided to do postgraduate??

Hi, sorry if I made you misunderstand. I am referring to cherlynIN's post:

"hey well i m the postgraduate of the biotech, so it is true that it damn hard to get a job in biotech relate field after those biotech postgraduate student graduate. I thought they say that our government are encourage the develop of biotech industry in m'sia? Frankly i m kinda of scared after c what u guy said"

I just wanna say it is a need to survey for the job market before you decide something, for example furthering your studies. There is no point in going to phd just because "most of my friends did it". And then got scared after realizing there are limited job offers.
I did life science because I love it, without checking out its job opportunities, job scope,.....etc. I regretted for not thinking thorough enough before I took my degree. But at the end of the day, I never regret taking my course because I found my passion and love in science. The dream of changing the world into a better place, environmental-wise or medical-wise, is still in us science graduates, no matter how stupid it sounds to others.

I think we all life science graduates should have more confidence in ourselves and all the knowledge we have, even if we have to do sales or pathology lab assistants to feed ourselves for the time being, we shouldn't let our dreams die. We should keep learning and updating ourselves, read journals and science news even if you've left the university, the passion is very important!

I guess I can tell you how much I understand the feeling. My father kept hinting me to go for medicine or engineering since I finished STPM. Until the day I completed my honours project, he was still saying I was too ignorant and stubborn to go choose something so "useless". For 3 months I was depressed, I sent out nearly hundred of emails for job applications and got nothing, providing that I got my degree in Aus, it was even more stressful to have spend so much money and not getting a job. Now I am working, and my dad finally shuts up and stops worrying and let me do what I wanna do.

So the hard times won't last long, so don't worry, but stay alert with the job market all over the world. All the best.

Google - wikipedia
"Southern Industrial and Logistics Clusters (SiLC) - SiLC is a 1,372 acre (5.6 km²) industrial park with close proximity to two international airports and cargo hubs as well as four seaports both in Johor and Singapore is a value-adding advantage. As an international gateway, this key logistical factor adds soaring value to the business activities of industry players."

sg jawi in penang u mean? they have plant tissue culture company? oh i never knew......hmm. There r more bioinfo companies in msia than u think Many really don't advertise even they have vacancies, so research about jobs are really needed.

Regarding what a biotech company wants....I once went to interview in a biotech company in penang, they are producing antibodies and other secondary proteins. They need people with experience in cloning. But the pay is too low with 1 year contract (under government program), so I turned it down even it is near to my house. N now im in kl! For bioinfo, hmm.....programming not necessarily, u always pick up over time. But I think the most important thing is the biology background. Cell biology, biochemistry, genetics or microbiology-basics will be useful.

Your friend working in mgrc? hmm, i might know him/her then yes, iq test or logic test included.

This post has been edited by rach_: May 27 2010, 08:33 AM

Is in penang biotech park, bukit minyak. That job is quite interesting too, because it involves protocol designing too, not only routine lab work. The contract is under government's plan, 1500 for 1 year, can't leave unless u reach 12 months. So, i tried my luck in KL. Have to be far from home thats the only drawback. Other than that, I love my current job

There is another company in Kulim. Pay not bad too. Is a US company if im not wrong.

Your pay should be not too bad, its ok to start with lower pay, experience is more worthy, right? So what your job scope covers? You love it?

Oh wow, u insisted to be in biotech field then? bravo, good for u, our field needs more people like you.
I am a bioinformatician. my job scope includes all the bioinformatics stuff but mainly in genomic area only (not touching on proteomic currently), like analyzing sequenced data, optimizing pipeline, ..... etc. but the main thing im doing now is learning programming script, because I had no experience in this at all during my uni days.

Aha, I guess I know who is your friend
Medical underwriter needs to be experienced in writing scientific or medical articles right? I don't realize that getting in MGRC is tough, I have no friends applying to this company too, but MGRC do need more staffs, did you try your luck?
I graduated in Uni of Adelaide, degree in biotech, honours in biochemistry.

Yes is a guy right. Not playing la.
Hmm....the ratio of race here is quite balance, its a mix. MGRC has many subsidiaries, the composition of race is slightly different for each subsidiary.
Good luck in your new job then

Well, be lecturer is not a bad choice. Even degree graduates can be lecturer nowadays, depending on universities.
Further studies take a long way, u have to be sure u want to commit and spend time and money and go down the research path, before u can take phd. I thought of phd last year, but I cant see myself in the research path forever yet, I prefer to have some working experience earn some money. Being a poor scientist is a very tough life.
There are a lot of things to consider. One problem with malaysians is that we have too much of misconceptions and wrong mindsets. We think being a lecturer/doctor/lawyer/engineer is awesome, but those terms are so general. Doctor, what kind of doctor, ethical doctor or money-oriented doctor? We generalize and group people according to their career, which doesnt make sense. One person can be brilliant and wise but lack a bit of luck, or the other way round. (ok maybe a bit off topic here...sorry)

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Added on May 27, 2010, 2:34 pmDont ask la!! keep it this way okie

This post has been edited by rach_: May 27 2010, 02:34 PM

@OMG!
I agree with you. The spirit of curiosity and urge to find out is too low. (Not only in science, generally, msians grew up to be ignorant)
To add, not only in lab experiments, many science students do not know the real biotech society, they do not know whats the most recent journal in their field, they do not know new upcoming techniques, they do not even bother to find out the reason of doing something. Text books are forever outdated. I don't know how the education system in public universities work, but reading journals is really how u get in touch with the real science. Same goes to the job market. (and they complain about being jobless, sigh)

@xaviereo
I don't think its hard. there are heaps of housing areas there. by the way u have not get accomodation yet? it'll be june soon!

i understand about the accessibility of journals nowadays (thats another issue which pisses me off), but there are still many websites out there regarding science news, we just have to stay interested in this field to keep up the fast developing pace, else we will be outdated very soon! going to exhibitions and talks is another great way too.
hmm, im not too sure about renting a place in sg jawi, but i doubt that its tough. (u r so lucky to get to work in penang, i love penang!!! )

I been to alpha biologics for interview. thats the company i mentioned just now 1500 1 yr contract. Nevermind, Im just whining because I just miss penang, kl is just....not a great city (for me).
At least I love my current job, and my aim is to gain experience, there is no big problem.Tell us about your job once you've started working ok?

er.....im replying xaviereo....he/she is starting work in june.
Its good that u did research before u decide what course to take. research more, ask more, all the best

Factory? I thought sime darby group has independent research lab.

hmm...im not sure about sime darby, but for genting group which is also dealing with crops, their lab work is pretty much in the lab, even involve some bioinformatics work. Probably you are right too, don't think we gonna be sure about how they run their lab unless we are working inside.

Anyway, 2200 actually is not too bad for entry-level, isn't it? Working in university or research institute labs always get relatively low pay because obviously academic labs have lesser financial power than corporate companies. It is not an issue of working in a "factory", really. Also, by working in a "factory" do you mean you are concern about uncomfortable or unhealthy work environment?

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Added on June 8, 2010, 4:16 pmYou are doing phd in ANU? very cool! I graduated in australia too, but i stopped at honours, came back msia and working now. Miss the lab days, though.
What is your phd project about?

This post has been edited by rach_: Jun 8 2010, 04:16 PM