HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
A typical path starts in secondary school with strong grades in biology, chemistry, math and English, plus any science fair, lab club or volunteer experience. Most people then complete a university bachelor’s degree in biology, microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology or a related science. For research, testing or senior roles, many employers prefer or require graduate study such as a master’s degree or PhD, though exact expectations vary by employer, province and specialty. Early experience often comes from lab courses, undergraduate research, co-op, summer jobs or assistant roles in hospitals, universities, government labs or biotech companies.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Conduct research into the structure, function, ecology, biotechnology and genetics of micro-organisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and algae
- Conduct research into the structure and functioning of human, animal and plant tissues and cells
- Conduct studies into the identification, effects and control of human, plant and animal pathogens and toxins
- Conduct clinical or laboratory studies to test, evaluate and screen drugs and pharmaceuticals
- Conduct molecular or biochemical studies and experiments into genetic expression, gene manipulation and recombinant DNA technology
- Conduct research to discover, develop and refine, and evaluate new products
- May participate in the commercialization of new products
- May supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists
- May conduct biostatistical data analysis using computer modelling techniques.
- Biologists and related scientists may specialize at the macroscopic level, in fields such as botany, zoology, ecology and marine biology or, at the cellular and molecular level, in fields such as genetics, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology, physiology, pathology, bacteriology and virology.