Why Study Biology?

From understanding how neural circuits enable perception, to how novel infectious diseases emerge, Arctic plant ecology and more — the study of biology opens up a multitude of exciting and meaningful career paths.

As a Biology student at UTM, you'll join a community of dynamic and award-winning educators, researchers and students who are continually re-imagining our understanding of plant and animal life forms.

On this page:

• What makes Biology at UTM distinctive?
• Biology, global: the worldwide impact of this discipline
• Skills you'll develop
• Career opportunities

What makes Biology at UTM distinctive?

Globally-recognized, award-winning research.

• Professor Emeritus Josef Svoboda was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada for his pioneering research on tundra ecosystems and for his lifelong mentorship of scientists studying the Arctic.
• Bridget Kathleen Murphy, PhD student, Ensminger Lab won the The Canadian Society of Plant Biologists CSPB/SCBV award for outstanding oral presentation at the 2021 CSPB/SCBV Annual General Meeting. Bridget's work focuses on the impact of climate change, specifically warming and drought, on the timing of cold acclimation in different white spruce genotypes.

A lush campus and strong sense of community.

• In addition to the program and department, as a Biology student at UTM, you'll be immersed in a truly extraordinary campus experience.
• You'll be participating in labs and research opportunities, led by the world-class educators, scientists and researchers that you'd expect from Canada's largest and most acclaimed university.
• At the same time, you'll also enjoy the down-to-earth sense of community that a campus – situated on 225 acres of lush, protected greenbelt – can provide.
• This lush natural setting is coupled with modern architecture, award-winning buildings and state-of-the art technology — providing students with a distinctive learning experience. 
• Our students also benefit from the safety and inclusiveness of a tight knit campus which offers a wide variety of student groups, clubs, and activities for all interests.

Biology, global: the worldwide impact of this discipline

As noted in McKinsey Global Institute's recent research: "Advances in biological science could transform economies and societies, helping to tackle global challenges from climate change to pandemics."

Skills you'll develop

• Communication and interpersonal: write scientific reports; present research findings; interact professionally with a multidisciplinary team of researchers, technicians, students and professors; and literacy writing.
• Research: collect and preserve field organisms; dissect preserved or euthanized specimen; inspect specimens; and analyze and evaluate information.
• Technical: use specialized computer programs; perform laboratory procedures; maintain laboratory equipment and instrumentation; and comply with quality control procedures.
• Quantitative: analyze data for trends and apply statistical tests to data.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving: analyze and logically interpret trends and results.

Career opportunities

A background in Biology can propel you into a range of fulfilling career paths, particularly in medicine.

Other career paths include pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, forensics and more. While not exhaustive, here's a list of career options that are available to you as a Biology graduate (some require further education and experience):

For a full list of career opportunities, visit the Careers by Major - Biology page.