Research Manager (Sciences)
Science
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Picture the job
Where you'd usually workA laboratory
- Mostly indoors
- Sitting for most of the day
- Dealing with customers or 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
Science research in Malaysia is led largely by government research institutes (MARDI, MPOB, FRIM, IMR, Nuclear Malaysia), research universities and corporate R&D in E&E and semiconductors. In government, research managers are senior Pegawai Penyelidik; in industry the title is usually R&D manager.
- How people get into it here
- SPM → science or engineering pre-university route → related bachelor's → research officer or R&D engineer → substantial project and team experience → research management. A research master's or PhD can strengthen some routes but is not a blanket entry requirement for Pegawai Penyelidik Q9.
- Government post
- Pegawai Penyelidik Gred Q9 entry (e.g. MARDI, MPOB, IMR, FRIM), promotion to Q10–Q14 · starts at RM2,580 a month
- Demand
- 'Research and Development Professionals' are on TalentCorp's MyCOL 2024/2025 list. TalentCorp MyCOL 2024/2025 brochure
Sources:randstad.com.myspa.gov.mydocs.jpa.gov.mytalentcorp.com.my
Pay in Malaysia
Starting in the role
RM4,000 – RM6,000
per month
Experienced
RM10,000 – RM18,000
per month
From a published Malaysian salary guide. Actual offers vary by employer, city and experience.
Randstad Malaysia 2025 Salary Guide · Dec 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 Research Manager (Sciences) in Malaysia?
SPM → science or engineering pre-university route → related bachelor's → research officer or R&D engineer → substantial project and team experience → research management. A research master's or PhD can strengthen some routes but is not a blanket entry requirement for Pegawai Penyelidik Q9.
What should I study to become a Research Manager (Sciences)?
Related fields of study: Science and Business. SPM subjects that help most: Biology, Additional Science, English and Business.
How much does a Research Manager (Sciences) earn in Malaysia?
Published figures put starting pay at RM4,000 – RM6,000 a month, and RM10,000 – RM18,000 with experience (source: Randstad Malaysia 2025 Salary Guide, Dec 2024).
Biotechnology & STEM · Career guide
Research Manager (Sciences)
Plans and coordinates research activities in scientific fields.
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?
- Plan the direction and activities of research projects.
- Coordinate project people and resources.
- Monitor research and development progress.
Work settings and skills
Management of research or R&D teams; this is a management role, not a direct route from school.
- Science
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
Study areas and planning after SPM
A relevant scientific field, followed by research and management experience according to the post.
Planning example: relevant scientific study → research and project-coordination experience → management applications matching the employer's requirements.
O*NET describes planning, directing and coordinating scientific research activities; actual posts depend on the organisation.
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
Choose further study according to the area you want to deepen and the post's requirements. Compare coursework and research modes and read the university's admission criteria.
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.
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.
- Biology81%
BiologyAdditional Science
- English Language80%
English
- Administration and Management76%
BusinessEconomics
- Computers and Electronics73%
Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies
- Administrative71%
Business
- Chemistry70%
Chemistry
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 peopleContact most of the time
- Dealing with customers or the publicHigh
- Leading or coordinating othersVery high
- 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.
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 24 internship and fresh-graduate adverts in related fields (August 2026). A small sample from one job site, not every vacancy.
20 of 24 were internships
Allowance or pay, when stated
RM1,000 – RM1,275
6 of 24 adverts printed an amount: usually between RM1,000 and RM1,275 a month. Many print none.
Minimum CGPA asked
3.00 to 3.20
Stated in 4 adverts. Others did not state one.
Languages named
Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin
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: Natural Sciences Managers
Source: Randstad Malaysia 2025 Salary Guide · as of Dec 2024
Check the salary figures yourself:Randstad Malaysia 2025 Salary Guide
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org