Biologists and Related Scientists Biologists and related scientists
A global AI analysis is below; pick a country for local salary, licensing and migration data.
Biologists and related scientists are impacted by AI in mixed ways: automation reduces routine data analysis and literature review positions, but AI amplifies the ability to parse complex biological data, accelerate drug discovery, and personalize medicine.
More exposed than about 54% of occupations (percentile; higher = more exposed to AI)
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Replacing biologists' work using X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, etc., to determine protein structures, greatly accelerating structural biology research, especially in drug target discovery and enzyme function prediction.
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Replaces part of the work that biologists used to do manually in analyzing molecular structures, conducting virtual screening, and docking simulations, improving drug discovery efficiency.
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Replaces the work of biologists manually annotating animal behavior from videos, especially in neuroscience and animal behavior research, by automatically identifying and quantifying specific behavior patterns.
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Replacing biologists' manual genome annotation work, automating gene prediction and structural annotation, especially widely used in microbial genomics.
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Replaces biologists' manual work of segmenting and counting cells from microscope images, greatly improving speed and consistency of image analysis in cell biology and pathology research
- BioBERT Model Partial 2019
Replaces the work of biologists manually reading and organizing literature, accelerating knowledge discovery and database construction, especially widely used in literature mining and biomedical information extraction.
- Routine data entry and statistical report generation.
- Literature search and preliminary summary
- Automated execution of simple experimental steps
- Biological sample identification and classification
- Laboratory process recording and compliance checks
- Multi-omics data integration and pattern recognition
- Protein structure prediction and molecular docking simulation
- High-throughput experiment design and optimisation
- Personalized medical plan recommendations
- Real-time environmental monitoring and ecological forecasting
- Propose original scientific hypotheses and experimental designs
- Interdisciplinary integration and innovative thinking
- Ethical judgement and regulatory compliance decision-making
- Long-term observation and interpretation of complex ecosystems
- Communication with stakeholders and science communication
- Python/R programming and bioinformatics libraries
- Applications of machine learning and deep learning in omics
- Data Visualization and Explainable AI
- Cloud computing and large-scale data processing
- Laboratory automation system operation
- Statistical modeling and experimental design
Entry-level roles such as research assistant and data entry clerk are partially automated by AI, increasing competition; but newcomers with AI skills can find new opportunities in bioinformatics and computational biology.
Transition to computational biology or bioinformatics specialist, leveraging AI tools for data-intensive research; or move into regulatory science, bioethics to ensure AI compliance; or develop novel diagnostic tools or sustainable agriculture solutions with AI.
Local data by country
Ratings · Overall 7.2/10
Salary
| Experience | Annual (CAD) | |
|---|---|---|
| 薪资中位数 | $85,010 ~ $85,010 | 全国全职年薪中位数（来源：加拿大 Job Bank，2021普查） |
| Entry level (0–3 years) | $45,000 ~ $60,000 | Lower starting salary in government or non-profit organizations |
| Mid-level (3–7 years) | $60,000 ~ $80,000 | Median salary for experienced biologist |
| Senior (7+ years) | $80,000 ~ $110,000 | Management or research supervisor position |
| 平均薪资 | $99,840 ~ $99,840 | 全国全职年薪均值（来源：加拿大 Job Bank，2021普查） |
Education Path
| Stage | Duration | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 4 years | $20,000~$40,000 |
| Master's degree | 2 years | $15,000~$30,000 |
Qualifications
| Qualification | Issuer | |
|---|---|---|
| Educational credential assessment (ECA) | WES or IQAS | Required |
| English language test | IELTS or CELPIP | Required |
| Professional certification (not mandatory) | Canadian Society of Biologists | Optional |
Migration (to Canada)
| Visa | Details |
|---|---|
| EE Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) | Requires NOC 21201 which is TEER 1, meeting the 67/100 point score and CRS requirements. |
| PNP Provincial Nominee Program | Such as the BC Skilled Worker category or the Ontario Human Capital Priorities stream |
| AIP Atlantic Immigration Program | For biologists with employer sponsorship in Atlantic provinces |
Who it fits
- People passionate about wildlife and nature conservation
- Hold a bachelor's degree or higher in biology or a related field
- Willing to adapt to fieldwork and seasonal changes
- Those who are not suited to long hours of outdoor work or harsh weather conditions
- People who dislike data analysis and lab work
Career outlook
Junior zoologists typically start as field surveyors or lab assistants, and can advance to project leaders or department heads with experience. A PhD can lead to university faculty or senior research positions, or shift to policy-making or environmental management.
Demand for biologists in Canada is stable, especially in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. Environmental consulting, resource management, and conservation offer many positions, but competition is moderate. Employment growth over the next five years is expected to be on par with the national average.
Growth areas：
Express Entry STEMProvincial NomineeEnvironmental ConsultingConservation
FAQ
Data sources
Salary estimates on this page are compiled from publicly available ranges on Job Bank, Indeed, Glassdoor, ERI SalaryExpert, etc. Employment and demand forecasts reference Statistics Canada and ESDC/Job Bank. Immigration information is based on IRCC's Express Entry and latest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) rules. Data is for reference only. Always refer to official sources for the most current information.
Ratings · Overall 7.2/10
Salary
| Experience | Annual (CAD) | |
|---|---|---|
| 薪资中位数 | $83,200 ~ $83,200 | 全国全职年薪中位数（来源：加拿大 Job Bank，2021普查） |
| Entry level (0–3 years) | $48,000 ~ $62,000 | Entry-level positions |
| Mid-level (3–7 years) | $62,000 ~ $85,000 | Experienced researcher |
| Senior (7+ years) | $85,000 ~ $110,000 | Senior scientist or management level. |
| 平均薪资 | $91,520 ~ $91,520 | 全国全职年薪均值（来源：加拿大 Job Bank，2021普查） |
Education Path
| Stage | Duration | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 4 years | $35,000~$60,000 |
| Master's degree | 2 years | $20,000~$45,000 |
| Doctorate | 4-6 years | $5,000~$20,000 |
Qualifications
| Qualification | Issuer | |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree in biology or a related discipline | Canadian universities | Required |
| Provincial professional biologist certification | Provincial biology associations (e.g., Ontario Institute of Biology) | Optional |
Migration (to Canada)
| Visa | Details |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) | Suitable for applicants with at least 1 year continuous paid work experience, meeting language scores, and qualification assessment |
| PNP Provincial Nominee Program | Priority occupations in biosciences exist in Ontario, BC, etc.; gaining a provincial nomination can add 600 points |
| LMIA Labour Market Impact Assessment | Employer-sponsored work visa, need to prove inability to recruit locally |
Who it fits
- Passionate about scientific research and laboratory work
- Patient with handling complex data
- Hope to work in the environmental protection or biotechnology industry
- Dislike long hours of experimental operations.
- Not good at written reports and academic writing
Career outlook
Junior researchers can advance to senior scientist or project manager roles, or transition to specialized fields like bioinformatics and regulatory affairs. A PhD helps in moving into management or academic positions.
Good employment prospects, driven by government environmental policies and growth in the biotechnology industry. More opportunities in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
Growth areas：
BiotechnologyEnvironmental monitoringPharmaceutical R&DRegulatory science
FAQ
Data sources
Salary estimates on this page are compiled from publicly available ranges on Job Bank, Indeed, Glassdoor, ERI SalaryExpert, etc. Employment and demand forecasts reference Statistics Canada and ESDC/Job Bank. Immigration information is based on IRCC's Express Entry and latest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) rules. Data is for reference only. Always refer to official sources for the most current information.
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