21110 Biologists and related scientists

What this occupation covers

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.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 16 main duties for this code.

• 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.
• 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.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 3 of its 16 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 20011 Architecture and science managers
• 21101 Chemists
• 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine

Excluded from this code

• Architecture and science managers (See 20011 Architecture and science managers)
• Biochemist (See 21101 Chemists)
• Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (See 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

agricultural scientist · agrogeologist · algologist · anatomist · animal ecologist · animal geneticist · animal nutritionist · animal taxonomist · apiculture entomologist · aquatic biologist · astrobiologist · bacteriologist · bacteriologist - animal health · bioinformatician · biological scientist · biologist · biology systematist · biology taxonomist · biomedical nanotechnology research scientist · botanist · bryologist · cell biologist · cellular physiologist · clinical research associate

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.