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Medical Scientist

Science & Research

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.

Science

Picture the job

Where you'd usually workA laboratory

  • Mostly indoors
  • 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

IMR conducts biomedical research, specialised diagnostics and technical training, including work in microbiology, biochemistry and molecular diagnostics. A medical research scientist is not automatically a medical doctor; clinical practice has a separate qualification and registration route.

How people get into it here
SPM → science pre-university or relevant diploma → bachelor's in biomedical science, microbiology, biochemistry or a related field → biomedical laboratory or research role. Relevant honours science graduates may meet the academic route for Pegawai Penyelidik Q9; postgraduate research is an option for specialised posts.

Sources:imr.nih.gov.mybiotech.upm.edu.myspa.gov.my

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
See pay for a related career: Agronomist / Agriculture Officer

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. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. Typical entry

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationDoctoral degree
The full route to this careerThe steps from school, UPU programmes and sourced costs, read against your answers.

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
Compare routes against your results and interests

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.

Search the programme catalogue

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

Quick answers

How do you become a Medical Scientist in Malaysia?

SPM → science pre-university or relevant diploma → bachelor's in biomedical science, microbiology, biochemistry or a related field → biomedical laboratory or research role. Relevant honours science graduates may meet the academic route for Pegawai Penyelidik Q9; postgraduate research is an option for specialised posts.

What should I study to become a Medical Scientist?

Related fields of study: Science. SPM subjects that help most: Biology, Additional Science, English and Chemistry.

How much does a Medical Scientist earn in Malaysia?

We don't yet have a Malaysian source we can cite for Medical Scientist pay, so we show no figure.

Biotechnology & STEM · Career guide

Medical Scientist

Conducts research to understand human disease and improve knowledge of health.

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 questions about human disease.
  • Conduct biomedical or related research.
  • Analyse and communicate research findings.
O*NET — Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (work overview; US occupation data) ↗
Work settings and skills

Research institutes and biomedical laboratories; research work is distinct from medical practice.

  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Science
O*NET — Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (work overview; US occupation data) ↗
Study areas and planning after SPM

Biomedical science, biochemistry, microbiology or a related life science.

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.

IMR conducts biomedical research, specialist diagnostics and training; its epidemiology unit also studies disease patterns and modelling.

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.

Sources and checked date

Checked: 2026-11-10

What you'd do all day

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

  1. 1Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
  2. 2Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
  3. 3Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
  4. 4Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
  5. 5Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
  6. 6Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
  7. 7Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
  8. 8Study animal and human health and physiological processes.
  9. 9Write and publish articles in scientific journals.
  10. 10Write applications for research grants.
  11. 11Investigate cause, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission of diseases or parasites.
  12. 12Use equipment such as atomic absorption spectrometers, electron microscopes, flow cytometers, or chromatography systems.
  13. 13Confer with health departments, industry personnel, physicians, and others to develop health safety standards and public health improvement programs.
  14. 14Consult with and advise physicians, educators, researchers, and others regarding medical applications of physics, biology, and chemistry.

Also known as

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

  • MSL
  • Anatomist
  • Scientist
  • Cytologist
  • Researcher
  • Serologist
  • Histologist
  • Oncology MSL
  • Toxicologist
  • Gerontologist

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).
ChemistryDraws directly on Medicine and Dentistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional 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.

  • Biology94%

    BiologyAdditional Science

  • English Language82%

    English

  • Medicine and Dentistry73%

    BiologyChemistry

  • Chemistry69%

    Chemistry

  • Mathematics64%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Computers and Electronics60%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

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 peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicNot at all
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never
  • Time walking or movingA little

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.

36%

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.

Growing role in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.

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: Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

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