Biologists and related scientists
Career Overview
Biologists and related scientists carry out research to gain knowledge of living organisms, to manage natural resources and to develop new practices and products related to medicine and agriculture.
Biologists and related scientists work in both laboratory and field settings for:
- Governments
- Nonprofit entities and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
- Environmental consulting companies
- Resource and utilities companies
- Chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnical companies
- Health and educational institutions
Biologists can also be interdisciplinary professionals involved in policy review, data analysis, management of government and other programs, education and more. Depending on specialty and affiliation, biologists can work in the field, in laboratories, in offices, or in all three.
B.C. is unusual in recognizing applied/professional biologists as a distinct profession with its own accreditation process under the College of Applied Biologists. Applied biologists usually work in government, private industry, and nonprofit roles, often related to resource management, education, and environmental protection.
Job Titles
Duties
Biologists:
- Plan and carry out studies of the environment or of specific organisms
- Plan and carry out studies of the population, distribution, structure, functional characteristics and behaviour of plants and animals
- Conduct environmental impact studies and prepare reports
- Drive to and from field sites to directly examine and work on site
- Study, identify and classify plant and animal specimens
- Carry out experiments in plant or animal growth, heredity and breeding
- Prepare reports and plans for management of renewable resources
- Supervise biological technicians and other scientists
- Perform microscopy, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, fluorometry, and other laboratory techniques using specialized equipment and substances
Applied biologists:
- Review and analyze data related to legal compliance or natural resource management
- Engage the public on matters related to the natural world
- Carry out environmental impact studies and prepare reports
- Advise government and industry managers on matters related to land use, ecological planning and mitigation or restoration of ecosystem damage
- Provide expertise to lawmakers, managers, and decision makers
- Supervise biological technicians and other scientists
- Engage in long-term monitoring of legally or ecologically sensitive environments and contribute to data sets and reports
- Understand and act on policy information related to the natural world
- Represent their organization or employer in meetings with other stakeholders
Microbiologists and cell and molecular biologists:
- Research the structure, function, ecology, biotechnology and genetics of micro-organisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoans and algae
- Research the structure and workings of human, animal and plant tissues and cells
- Carry out studies into the identification, effects and control of human, plant and animal microorganisms and poisons
- Run clinical or laboratory studies to test, check and screen drugs
- Carry out molecular or biochemical studies and experiments into genetics, gene manipulation and recombinant DNA technology
- Conduct research in biotechnology to find, develop, refine and evaluate new products
- Participate in the commercialization of new products
- Supervise biological technicians and other scientists
- Conduct biostatistical data analysis using computer modelling techniques
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
5,960% Employed Full Time
72%Depending on speciality, biologists and related scientists might work in an office, laboratory, hospital, field site or some combination of these. Microbiologists typically work in laboratories or hospitals, whereas applied biologists working in ecosystem conservation are likely to split their time between field work and office work.
Field biologists will be exposed to various weather conditions and local microbes that may cause illness, whether airborne, waterborne or foodborne. Similarly, microbiologists can be exposed to infectious agents, especially in hospital settings. Safety precautions and procedures in place minimize risks.
All biological specialties increasingly feature extensive use of specialized software programs and skill bases, including geographic information systems (GIS), data science, advanced statistical programs, databases and bioinformatics. This results in more time working at desks and in offices.
Career Pathways
Once employed as a biologist, opportunities for advancement emerge with experience and increasing breadth of expertise.
Academic biologists can advance along the tenure track, starting as postdoctoral fellows and becoming assistant professors, associate professors, and full/tenured professors over time. Biologists can also pursue research chair positions with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and other government and similar bodies by becoming recognized experts in specific topics and winning grants.
In industry and similar settings, biologists can advance to positions such as senior biologist, program manager, lab manager, or lab supervisor.
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Most biologist positions require a bachelor's degree in biology or a related discipline. Aspiring applied biologists and people with an eye toward a Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio) certification, required for many non-academic biologist jobs in B.C., may instead pursue more specific bachelor’s degrees with paths directly into the certification. Contact the College of Applied Biologists for details on how to apply for certification in B.C. and which academic specialties can lead toward that certification.
Research scientists in biology require master’s or doctoral degrees, whether employed in academia, government or elsewhere. Academic departments and research institutions also require postdoctoral research experience.
Aspiring biologists can make themselves especially enticing for future employers by developing skills in ArcGIS, biological informatics, technical writing, science communication, Indigenous Reconciliation and sensitivity training. These skills can be acquired as part of a degree program or as separate study.
Biologists who are certified by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
5,960Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 130 | 2.2% |
| Kootenay | 245 | 4.1% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,625 | 60.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 175 | 2.9% |
| Northeast | 85 | 1.4% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 555 | 9.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,145 | 19.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2025-2035)
1,940Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2025-2035)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | 0.5% |
| Kootenay | 80 | 1.1% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,250 | 1.1% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 0.1% |
| Northeast | 10 | 0.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 160 | 0.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 380 | 1.1% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2025-2035) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 920 |
| Public Administration | 340 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 220 |
| Manufacturing | 130 |
| Educational Services | 90 |
Insights from Industry
Although biology is a popular focus for university degrees, the breadth of potential specializations within it means that the skills in higher demand in government and industry settings are not necessarily well represented among recent biology graduates.
Skills currently in high demand but underrepresented include GIS, data science and science communication.
Resources
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Association of Professional Biology (APB)professionalbiology.com
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Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board (CECAB)www.cecab.org
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Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB)csmb-scbm.ca
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Canadian Society of Plant Biologistswww.cspb-scbv.ca
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Canadian Society of Zoologistswww.csz-scz.ca
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College of Applied Biology of British Columbia, Employment Postingswww.cab-bc.org/job-postings
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Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society (CMBES)www.cmbes.ca
Career Videos
Watch the videos below to see what a day in the life of a biologist is like.
Watch the videos below to see what a day in the life of a biologist is like.
