Biologists and related scientists

NOC

21110

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.

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Full NOC Description

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, biotechnical companies, hospitals and health, research and educational institutions.

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Biologists

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

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, pharmaceuticals and nanoparticles used in biomedical applications

Conduct molecular or biochemical studies and experiments in genetic expression, gene manipulation and recombinant DNA technology to develop new or alternative methods of producing products

Conduct research in biotechnology 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, virology, biotechnology and bioinformatics.

Also Known As

anatomist
bacteriologist
bioinformatician
biologist
botanist

cell biologist

ecologist

embryologist

geneticist

histologist

immunologist

marine biologist

microbiologist

molecular biologist

mycologist

parasitologist

pharmacologist

physiologist

protozoologist

toxicologist

virologist

zoologist

Requirements

Employment Requirements

A bachelor's degree in biology or in a related discipline is required for biologists.

A master's or doctoral degree in biology or a related discipline is required for employment as a research scientist in biology.

Post-doctoral research experience is usually required before employment in academic departments or research institutions.

Biologists are regulated in Alberta and British Columbia.

Provincial Regulation

Not Provincially Regulated

Employment by Sex

The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

Data legend

52.4%

Female

47.6%

Male

Employment by age

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

Data legend

4.8%

15-24

23.8%

25-34

30.5%

35-44

20.0%

45-54

16.2%

55-64

4.8%

65+

Employment by highest level of education

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

Data legend

0.0%

No Certificate, Diploma or Degree

0.0%

High School, Diploma or Equivalent

0.0%

Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma

0.0%

College or University Below Bachelor Level

92.3%

University - Bachelor Level or Above

Employment by Industry

The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

Data legend

45.2%

Public administration

20.2%

Professional, scientific and technical services

8.7%

Manufacturing

26.0%

All Other Industries

Employment by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

Data legend

6.80%

Northeast

42.70%

Southeast

16.50%

Southwest

27.20%

Central

6.80%

Northwest

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Data legend

$72,000

Northeast

$84,000

Southeast

$70,000

Southwest

$84,000

Central

$85,000

Northwest

Economic Regions

Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Salary

The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

Employment Outlook

The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

Occupational Profiles