Biologists and Related Scientists

Biologists and related scientists conduct basic and applied research to extend knowledge of living organisms, to manage natural resources, and to develop new practices and products related to medicine and agriculture. They are employed in both laboratory and field settings by governments, environmental consulting companies, resource and utilities companies, chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnical companies and health and educational institutions.

Example Titles

anatomist, bacteriologist, bioinformatician, biologist, botanist, cell biologist, ecologist, embryologist, geneticist, histologist, immunologist, marine biologist, microbiologist, molecular biologist, parasitologist, pharmacologist, physiologist, protozoologist, toxicologist, virologist, zoologist

Main duties

Biologists perform some or all of the following duties:

Plan and conduct studies of the environment, and of the population, distribution, structure and functional characteristics and behaviour of plants and animals
Conduct ecological and environmental impact studies and prepare reports
Study, identify and classify plant and animal specimens
Conduct experiments in plant or animal growth, heredity and breeding
Prepare reports and plans for management of renewable resources
May supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.

Microbiologists and cell and molecular biologists perform some or all of the following 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.