National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0

2 - Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

This broad category comprises occupations in natural sciences (including basic and applied sciences and experimental development), engineering, architecture and information technology. These occupations cover specialized middle management occupations in engineering, architecture, science and information systems; professional occupations in natural sciences (basic and applied sciences and experimental development); and technical occupations related to natural sciences (including basic and applied sciences and experimental development).

21 - Professional occupations in natural and applied sciences

This major group comprises professional occupations in natural sciences; professional occupations in applied sciences and professional occupations in engineering. These occupations come with Training, Education, Experience and Responsibility (TEER) identified as TEER 1. Occupations classified in TEER 1, as those in this group with a 1 as the second digit of their code, typically require a university degree (bachelor's, master's or doctorate) or the accumulation of several years of experience and expertise in the subject matter knowledge in a related occupation found in TEER 2, when applicable (which includes occupations with a 2 as a second digit in their code).

211 - Professional occupations in natural sciences

This sub-major group comprises professional occupations in natural sciences, including physical science professionals, life science professionals, and public and environmental health and safety professionals.

2111 - Life science professionals

This minor group comprises life science professionals, including biologists and related scientists, forestry professionals, and agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists. They are employed by governments; consulting, agricultural, resource, utilities, chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnical companies; agricultural, health and educational institutions; and forestry and other industries; or they may be self-employed.

21110 - 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, biotechnical companies, hospitals and health, research and educational institutions.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • 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

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • 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)

• 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.

• 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.