Geneticist
Science & Research
Research and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level. May evaluate or treat patients with genetic disorders.
Picture the job
Where you'd usually workA laboratory
- Mostly indoors
- Sitting for most of the day
- Rarely dealing with the public
- Regular working hours
An illustration of a typical workplace, not a photo. The work-style notes come from US O*NET data, so read them as a guide.
In Malaysia
'Geneticist' is rarely a job title in Malaysian ads. Genetics graduates usually work as research officers at IMR, MARDI, MPOB (oil palm breeding) or FRIM, as university researchers and lecturers, or in genomics labs; human genomics work is growing through IMR's MyGenom project and the Malaysia Genome and Vaccine Institute.
- How people get into it here
- SPM → science pre-university or relevant diploma → bachelor's in genetics, biotechnology, molecular biology or a related field → research assistant or eligible research-officer post. A research master's or PhD can support specialist or academic research but is not required for every Q9 post. Clinical geneticists are medical doctors who specialise further.
- Government post
- Pegawai Penyelidik Gred Q9 (dahulu Q41) — e.g. IMR, MARDI, MPOB, FRIM · starts at RM2,580 a month
Sources:spa.gov.mybiotech.upm.edu.my
Pay in Malaysia
Government starting pay
RM2,580 – RM3,020
per month
Official basic pay for the government grade, before allowances. Private-sector pay can differ.
SPA — Pegawai Penyelidik Gred Q9 · Aug 2024
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
Entry straight after SPM
2
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
3
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
4
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
Typical entry
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
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.
Asasi / Foundation
One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.
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.
Quick answers
How do you become a Geneticist in Malaysia?
SPM → science pre-university or relevant diploma → bachelor's in genetics, biotechnology, molecular biology or a related field → research assistant or eligible research-officer post. A research master's or PhD can support specialist or academic research but is not required for every Q9 post. Clinical geneticists are medical doctors who specialise further.
What should I study to become a Geneticist?
Related fields of study: Science. SPM subjects that help most: Biology, Additional Science, English and Additional Mathematics.
How much does a Geneticist earn in Malaysia?
The official pay scale put starting pay at RM2,580 – RM3,020 a month (source: SPA — Pegawai Penyelidik Gred Q9, Aug 2024).
Biotechnology & STEM · Career guide
Geneticist
Studies the inheritance of traits at molecular, organism or population level.
Work overview based on O*NET occupation sources; Malaysian study examples and context are linked below. Actual requirements depend on the programme and post.
What does the work involve?
- Investigate inheritance and genetic variation.
- Analyse gene or population data.
- Explain genetic research findings.
Work settings and skills
Plant, animal or biomedical research; clinical-genetics posts have a separate professional route.
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Active Listening
Study areas and planning after SPM
Genetics, molecular biology, biotechnology or life sciences.
Planning example: SPM → science pre-university or a diploma meeting programme requirements → a relevant bachelor's → job applications or research training. Check each programme's special requirements and each vacancy.
UPM offers science and biotechnology programmes; compare course content with the biological field you want to explore.
These are study areas to explore, not verified admission rules for every programme. Check special requirements, recognition and curriculum directly with the institution.
Further study and professional checks
UPM offers thesis-based master's and PhD study with programme-specific admission rules. SPA's Research Officer Q9 scheme also accepts a relevant honours science bachelor's; postgraduate study is not required for every research post.
Check the actual vacancy before treating a qualification as sufficient. Study or training does not guarantee admission or employment.
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- Biology97%
BiologyAdditional Science
- English Language86%
English
- Education and Training74%
- Mathematics74%
Additional MathematicsMathematics
- Chemistry69%
Chemistry
- Computers and Electronics61%
Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies
Tools you'd use
Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.
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 peopleConstant contact
- Dealing with customers or the publicNot at all
- Leading or coordinating othersHigh
- Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
- Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
- Noisy environmentRarely
- Time spent sittingAlmost all the time
Where this job is heading
Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.
- Inventory and order lab supplies.
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.
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.
What beginner adverts asked for
We read 8 internship and fresh-graduate adverts in related fields (August 2026). A small sample from one job site, not every vacancy.
5 of 8 were internships
Minimum CGPA asked
3.00 to 3.00
Stated in 2 adverts. Others did not state one.
Languages named
Bahasa Malaysia
An empty line means the adverts did not say, not that employers have no requirement. Check each employer's own advert before you plan around it.
Related careers
If this interests you, these are worth a look too.
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: Geneticists
Source: SPA — Pegawai Penyelidik Gred Q9 · as of Aug 2024
Check the salary figures yourself:SPA — Pegawai Penyelidik Gred Q9
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org