Hi guys, I'm in need of some help.

I'm considering a Ph.D. in Biotechnology (applied areas such as Industrial, Biomedical, Enzymology) in a university in M'sia. Currently looking at universities based in the Central region (Klang Valley area) such as IMU,UPM, UKM, UM, etc. I'm currently based in the northern region but would like to relocate to Central, hence my interest in these unis. Otherwise I'd join USM in a heartbeat .

To make my decision, I'd be grateful for some input from current students or PhD grads about their research groups. Among the things I'm looking at to decide where to go/approach is:

- how are the principal investigators/academicians like? genial/helpful/territorial/petty/approachable/aloof etc.
- working environment
- research funding
- accessibility to equipment/resources/training
- presence/absence of internal politics
- productivity of research group


Looking forward to some input from you all. Cheers!

Moved to a more relevant sub forum.

I'll give you my opinion based on my stay in UKM for 4 years+
how are the principal investigators/academicians like
some are helpful and friendly...some are impatient and fierce...but most of them are not that available IMO..sometimes it's difficult to locate a lecturer without prior appointment.

Working environment and Research Funding
depends on which lab you are going into as different PI has different lab and equipments...In my previous lab, the equipments are okay but you have to compete with undergraduates for the machine...sometimes the queue would take weeks..i would suggest research institutes such as MGI,IMBIOSIS in UKM or ABI, MARDI in UPM..They have less student: equipment ratio and usually have better equipments due to large fundings

Not so much politics among students but some labs have serious political issues...politics among lecturers are much serious..

Productivity...hmm..depends on yourself i think...but some groups have lab meetings everyweek some don't...those that have lab meetings would push harder for results..

Generally speaking, IPTA has better equipments than IPTS..but that would depends on what IPTA you are going to also..

If you get your BSc or MSc from overseas, better further there..
We are having tight research grant now.. better not joining any sooner...

USM have a good funding and research ..
UPM--> institute biosains, their own fund+upm funding

Three years have passed. Have you got your doctorate degree?

Interestingly enough, no I'm currently running a biotech startup

Cool! What kind of Biotech Research Projects in development?

Source: PHDcomics

Molecular diagnostics, primarily. Its a whole different ball game from academia I must say.

Sorry, I overlooked. How do you work with Molecular diagnostics, and What is main application of Molecular diagnostics?

PCR detection of organisms/microogranisms/pathogens, in as much as me and my company are concerned.

how's your company doing? i'm thinking of running a biotech startup too, but it's just a thought - haven't had any further actions yet.

1) Did you get any gov grant to support the company?
2) Do you have any tax exemption? (as far as i know there's some sort of tax exemption for the biotech startups.)
3) Do you have any clients? Or is that a research company?

i guess you made a good move. there are very limited jobs for science graduates out there.

All the best!

Thank you kindly! Yeah, not much interesting biotech jobs out there - mostly academic. Really if u want to do R&D, join public academia - nobody else will bother to invest in ur upskilling and R&D work. Hardly any private R&D outfits shelling out the dough, save places like ACGT and the like, with big parents and deep pockets. HAving said that though, the whole idea behind knowledge-based economy - or any economy really - is still entrepreneurship.

Shoe string biotech startup like mine, definitely need support. Tax exemption comes in the form of BioNexus status, but that's 2 years down the road. As for clients, well, that's the point of having a business kan?

This post has been edited by pleasuresaurus: Jan 3 2014, 07:47 PM

Lol true though. This is the whole point of business. How do you find it starting your biotech business overall? I think the main concern is the $$ - machineries need $$ (super a lot of money in fact), reagents need $$. The next in line is the technical skills. No skill no talk. That's why I plan to get into a company and learn the skills before I can own one. I am gathering opinions from everyone now - to see whether this is a risk worth taking

Bro, no point asking opinions la, everybody's got one. If u have the urge, the entrepreneurial spirit, u will want to do it no matter what ppl say.What IS valuable is experiences of ppl who r neck deep in enterprise. Knowledge can be bought, experience is priceless.

I think ur idea is sound - start somewhere, work for sumbody, pick up some good habits (bad ones too, cant be helped hehehe), build contacts (its not who u r, its who you know), save sum capital, keep learning. Also, from a sci tech geek point of view, don't get too attached to ur ideas - if it cant sell, its useless. Move on. This is easy to say but hard to do, believe me.

While money is an issue, its not really THAT big an issue. If ur running a tech startup, there are a number of ways for you to secure your funding, from pre seed, seed, pre comm and commercialization. Just need to know where to look and how to sell. Even technical skill is not a deal breaker. Like I said, knowledge can be bought. Whats most important is the sellability of the idea. I've met sum pretty otai tech biz ppl and they all tell me the same thing - think sales marketing first.