WHAT DOES A BIOLOGIST DO?
Published: May 19, 2025 – The Biologist conducts innovative research to develop disease-relevant cell-based assays and perform mechanistic studies targeting areas such as oncology, neuroscience, and immunology. This position designs and executes molecular and cellular biology experiments, interprets complex results, and formulates new hypotheses to guide further investigation. The biologist also collaborates across interdisciplinary teams, presents findings regularly, and maintains detailed tracking of experiments, reagents, and study outcomes.
A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Biologist
1. Biologist Duties and Roles
- Lab Management: Maintain lab supplies and lab organization (2 labs)
- Instrument Maintenance: Perform instrument and lab maintenance and upkeep per protocols (8 Instruments).
- Customer Support: Support customer complaints, PCR technology, and general laboratory work experience.
- Sample Preparation: Work independently, prepare test samples, operate products, and analyze products’ output and results.
- Operational Testing: Execute detailed repetitive customer-like operational tasks while testing the product.
- Product Feedback: Provide feedback and insights on usability and the operation of the product.
- Lab Practices: Demonstrate Good Lab Practices.
2. Biologist Responsibilities and Key Tasks
- Molecular Analysis: Independently performing complex and routine analyses and interpretation, including DNA isolation, real-time PCR and culture.
- Workflow Management: Coordinating, organizing and prioritizing workflow for self and others.
- Instrument Troubleshooting: Troubleshooting method and instrument performance, as well as routine instrument maintenance (daily, weekly and yearly).
- Data Interpretation: Compiling and interpreting data collected.
- Scheduling: Developing and maintaining work schedules for laboratory technicians
- Training: Training new technicians and cross-training other team members on laboratory procedures
- Record Accuracy: Ensuring all laboratory-generated records are complete and accurate
- Protocol Development: Modifying protocols, standard operating procedures and other improvement documents
- Corrective Actions: Writing corrective actions and conducting root cause investigations
- Internal Audits: Conducting internal audits and writing internal proficiency testing plans
- Validation Testing: Writing method validation plans and conducting the testing
- Sample Coordination: Coordinating sample shipments and tracking shipments
- Customer Feedback: Compiling customer feedback on a sample receipt
- Supply Ordering: Placing orders for laboratory supplies
3. Biologist Roles and Responsibilities
- Virus Characterization: Rescue, propagation, and characterization of influenza viruses in compliance with good laboratory practice (GLP) guidelines.
- Gene Cloning: Cloning and mutagenesis of influenza genes in various plasmid vectors.
- Virus Purification: Virus purification from cell culture or eggs by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation.
- Virus Analysis: Biochemical/biophysical analysis of virus particles and virus antigen quantification.
- Vaccine Development: Develop new strategies for improving vaccine virus antigen yield in eggs.
- Biosafety Compliance: Maintain proficiency in Biosafety Level 3 laboratory studies
- Emergency Response: Meet urgent demands of mitigating emerging influenza viruses with pandemic potential.
- Scientific Communication: Communicate progress orally and in writing with the technical monitor and other researchers.
- Report Preparation: Assist the technical monitor with the preparation of reports, presentations, and papers for publication in scientific journals.
4. Biologist Key Accountabilities
- Production Contribution: Contributing as part of the team to deliver daily/weekly production throughput targets
- Molecular Data Generation: Generating high-quality molecular data required for regulatory approvals
- Protocol Adherence: Adhering to established protocols and good laboratory practice techniques
- Strategic Planning: Developing long-range plans with team members to assess testing strategy needs and new technologies
- Automation Operation: Operating and troubleshooting production automation
- Problem Solving: Routine to complex problem solving related to production troubleshooting
- Process Optimization: Demonstrating good judgment when identifying and implementing optimizations
- Record Keeping: Maintaining detailed record keeping and ISO documentation for process improvements
- Safety Compliance: Achieving commitment to safety and adherence to safety protocols and best practices
5. Biologist General Responsibilities
- Production Contribution: Contributing as part of the team to deliver daily/weekly production throughput targets
- Molecular Data Generation: Generating high-quality molecular data required for regulatory approvals
- Protocol Adherence: Adhering to established protocols and good laboratory practice techniques
- Strategic Planning: Developing long-range plans with team members to assess testing strategy needs and new technologies
- Automation Operation: Operating and troubleshooting production automation
- Record Keeping: Maintaining detailed record keeping and ISO documentation for process improvements
- Safety Compliance: Achieving commitment to safety and adherence to safety protocols and best practices
6. Biologist Role Purpose
- Technical Support: Provide technical support in areas such as isolation and purification of human lymphocyte sub-populations using magnetic beads and flow cytometry separation techniques
- Functional Assays: Perform functional assays of human T lymphocyte and dendritic cell function in tissue culture
- Cell Culture Maintenance: Maintain long-term cultures of human lymphocytes
- Flow Cytometry: Analyze the expression of cell surface antigens on human lymphocytes using flow cytometric techniques
- Gene Expression Analysis: Analyze gene expression in human T lymphocytes by PCR
- Protein Expression Analysis: Analyze protein expression by Western blot technology
- Laboratory Testing: Use laboratory equipment and apparatus to perform standardized and specialized tests
- Data Processing: Use computers and electronic equipment to collect and process laboratory data
- Notebook Maintenance: Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks
7. Environmental Biologist Essential Functions
- Field Program Execution: Conduct terrestrial and/or aquatic field programs accurately and completely using industry standard protocols, regulatory guidance, and best management practices
- Independent Work and Supervision: Work independently and supervise junior staff
- Environmental Oversight: Provide environmental oversight and work independently
- Proposal and Permit Support: Assist in the development of proposals, field work plans, reporting, and design drawings, as well as permit authorizations
- Team Collaboration: Work with peers, intermediate, and senior staff in all aspects of project work
- Resource Coordination: Coordinate equipment and resources
- Data Analysis: Data compilation and interpretation, evaluation of environmental regulations, preparation of environmental reports, and regulatory submissions
- Regulation Interpretation: Review and interpretation of provincial and federal acts and regulations
- Field Documentation: Provide accurate and complete field notes using traditional and digital capture methods
- Data Management: Take responsibility for data entry and data management
8. Biologist Additional Details
- Bench Research: Perform research as a leading bench scientist
- Assay Development: Develop disease-relevant cell-based assays and perform mechanistic studies to characterize novel targets and compounds in close collaboration with disease area partners (including oncology, neuroscience, immunology, ophthalmology, and respiratory).
- Experimental Design: Design and execute cell and molecular biology experiments, interpret and challenge results, and generate new hypotheses and next steps
- Team Collaboration: Work in interdisciplinary teams to share expertise and collaborate toward shared goals
- Data Presentation: Frequent oral data communication/presentation
- Experiment Tracking: Design and track experiments, study results, and reagents
9. Biologist Details and Accountabilities
- In Vitro Studies: Assists in the conduct of in vitro studies
- Product Evaluation: Evaluate pharmaceutical products according to specifications
- Product Assessment: Safety and efficacy of products, product candidates, and product raw materials
- Product Development: Develop innovative product candidates
- Laboratory Experimentation: Perform laboratory experiments for drug evaluation and/or product development while observing Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)
- Assay Development: Assist/contribute in the development and application of new in vitro assays
- Data Recording: Ensure complete and accurate recording of experimental data, and perform detailed and accurate computation
- Report Preparation: Prepare reports on experiments conducted within agreed timelines
- Operational Support: Provide other services necessary and relevant for the efficient and effective operation of the department
10. Biologist Job Description
- Plant Care: Perform plant care in the growth chamber, greenhouse, and field, involving soil preparation, planting, maintenance, bagging, pollination, harvesting, plant disease, phenotype evaluations, and other related work
- Physiology Measurements: Routine plant physiology measurements
- Lab Research: Routine lab bench research involving imaging and plant tissue collection
- Microscopy: Basic microscopy using a dissecting microscope and a stereoscope
- Solution Preparation: Make simple chemical solutions following standardized recipes
- Data Collection: Data collection and documentation
- Safety Compliance: Follow ESH policies and procedures to ensure personal safety, the safety of others, and the safe operation of the local research facility
- Data Entry: Assist with data entry into standard templates using Microsoft Excel