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Biological Technician

Science & Research

Assist biological and medical scientists. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, collect data and samples, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Science

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
  2. 2Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
  3. 3Participate in the research, development, or manufacturing of medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations.
  4. 4Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.
  5. 5Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings.
  6. 6Provide technical support and services for scientists and engineers working in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, resource management, biology, and health sciences.
  7. 7Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities.
  8. 8Input data into databases.
  9. 9Isolate, identify and prepare specimens for examination.
  10. 10Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory and field equipment.
  11. 11Clean, maintain and prepare supplies and work areas.
  12. 12Feed livestock or laboratory animals.
  13. 13Conduct standardized biological, microbiological or biochemical tests and laboratory analyses to evaluate the quantity or quality of physical or chemical substances in food or other products.
  14. 14Examine animals and specimens to detect the presence of disease or other problems.
  15. 15Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards.
  16. 16Measure or weigh compounds and solutions for use in testing or animal feed.
  17. 17Place orders for laboratory equipment and supplies.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Aquatic Tech
  • Seed Analyst
  • Biotechnician
  • Babcock Tester
  • Biologist Aide
  • Biological Aide
  • Biotechnologist
  • Extraction Tech
  • Game Technician
  • R & D Associate

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

BiologyDraws directly on Biology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional ScienceDraws directly on Biology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Biology89%

    BiologyAdditional Science

  • English Language76%

    English

  • Mathematics66%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Computers and Electronics65%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Chemistry64%

    Chemistry

  • Education and Training47%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleContact most of the time
  • Dealing with customers or the publicNot at all
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

7%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

0.10%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Biological Technicians

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue