Biology-based Career Paths

Many career paths are available after obtaining a degree in Biology. Biology provides knowledge, technical expertise, and problem-solving skills that underpin a variety of careers. Our faculty and staff take pride in the various career accomplishments of our former students. About 34% of our past Honours graduates have gone on to obtain non-doctoral post-undergraduate degrees. Of these, the majority (71%) obtained their M.Sc. and 16% a Bachelor of Education. More impressively, 51% of past Honours students have gone on to obtain doctoral degrees; 86% of them as Ph.D. and M.D. (about an equal split) and the remainder spanning Doctor of Dental Surgery to Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine to Doctor of Laws.

Research (Pure or Applied) & Academia

Pure research seeks to understand fundamental principles of organsisms and processes, and is quite varied in scope and focus. Applied research uses accumulated knowledge, often taken from pure research, for a specific goal. The natural world is a wild and wonderful place with many species yet to describe, many ideas yet to explore, many interactions yet to observe, and many uses for the extracts, proteins, and DNA yet to be discovered. Only 1.75 million species have been described (and half of those are insects!), with upwards of 5 million (some estimate 30 million) sharing space on earth. Academics explore the natural world and disseminate their findings far and wide mainly via universities, research institututes, colleges, governments, and non-governmental agencies.

Health Care

Biologists may seek to serve society by providing care to others, pets, or livestock. Health care professionals battle illnesses, prevent the spread of diseases, and care for those who are in need. Veterinarians care for pets and livestock in much the same way as medical doctors care for human patients. Both professions are an important part of all societies and many begin their career as biologists.

Environmental Preservation, Conservation and Management

The management of common resources such as fish and game and their habitats is a complicated task. Conservation and preservation of the natural world and the interactions and processes of its parts is an undertaking for those biologists that like the outdoors and working with stakeholders such as land owners and resource users (citizens). Maintenance of biodiversity is implemented through management plans that conserve the lands, lakes, rivers, and oceans for future generations to enjoy.

Education

Life science educators are an integral source of information and use their skills to teach others about the natural world.  They often take residency at universities and colleges, technical schools, or in the military as professors and instructors; they taught you and your friends in primary and secondary schools; and you see them at zoos, aquariums, and parks, on nature trails, in interpretation centres, and curating science museums. Chances are they were trained as biologists!