Nerdy Science Blog

I was reading malaysiakini news and came across this.

On Whatever happened to the bio-tech initiative?

Concerned Academic: This initiative has brought much grief to many young people. Let me tell you why. I was a lecturer in several private colleges in early 2000 to the present. There were thousands of students who took Biotechnology and Bio-Medical Sciences after intensive promotion by the government of the day and the private colleges. Well, most of these students now have very poor career prospects.

If you look at the job section of the papers, you can hardly see any jobs for people who took such courses. Most of the course required people with engineering and physical sciences degrees (physics, chemistry, materials science etc).

I think the government has a lot to answer for with their promotion of Biotechnology and nothing to show for it. So those who are thinking of doing bio-related courses, be warned. There are very few jobs for you upon graduation. Your prospects are either in teaching or in sales.

Youzi, one of the Nerdy Science Blog blogger commended that “doing science in Malaysia can be pretty depressing, and passion killing most of the time.”  She also shared her experience working in private lab as another painstaking experience as she was required by the private sectors to create miracles.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Just in case some of you who study in Monash don’t know about this, tomorrow (6th March) is the “Graduate Careers Fair” for ngineering, Computing/IT and Science.

It will be held at the sport centre (building 1), from 3 pm to 6 pm.

Popularity: 2% [?]

I’ve been thinking of working in Australia in the future.

Australian Visa Bureau:

Qualified science workers are finding many job opportunities in Australia at the moment, according to research by employment consultant Kelly Services. Scientists considering Australian immigration may find their specialist skills in high demand.

People with chemistry degrees are in high demand due to the mining boom and the expanding pharmaceuticals industry, Online Recruitment reports. Environmental scientists are also finding many job opportunities as ,climate and water issues become a priority. Geologists and mining industry professionals are also needed.

The highest salaries are being paid in Perth, where there is a shortage of experienced laboratory technicians and chemists, especially people with laboratory skills such as wet chemistry skills, instrumental analysis and quality systems. Older workers are finding themselves more popular than ever before as a source of skills and experience.

Hmm…. Damn! I’m majoring in biotechnology and immunology. Am I marketable in Australia?

Popularity: 2% [?]

thestar online:

Imagine being in a profession where you get to work surrounded by cosmetics and all things beautiful.

TO most women, Lilywati Arshad, 36, has an enviable job – she is surrounded by make-up and cosmetics for most of the day.

What is more, as scientific manager for L’Oreal Malaysia, Lilywati works for a leading cosmetics company. One can practically see the fashionistas out there turning green with envy!

According to Lilywati, the main tasks as a scientific manager of a cosmestics company are:

1. regulatory - registration of the cosmestics products, products packaging, working with Health Ministry, etc.
2. scientific - explain to public via press the science behind the products, dealing with scientific community, handles complaints, etc.

Popularity: 2% [?]