Welcome to Biology at Waterloo

Biology is the study of living organisms: their structure, function, organization, origin, and evolution.

As a biologist, you’ll have career options that span a wide range of professions, including laboratory and field research, environmental assessment, the health professions, education, and industry. By choosing one of our areas of specialization, such as Animal Physiology, Ecology and Environmental Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, or Plant Biology, you can better prepare yourself for these exciting career opportunities.

Our Biology program is versatile, allowing you to complement your Genetics, Cell Biology, Physiology, Ecology, Plant Biology, and Human Anatomy courses with studies from the arts, humanities, languages, and mathematics areas. Related labs, tutorial sessions, and field trips provide hands-on experience in a wide range of biological disciplines.

The Department of Biology offers undergraduate degrees in Bioinformatics, Biomedical Sciences (formerly Pre-Optometry/Pre-Health), Honours Biochemistry, Honours Biochemistry/Biotechnology (Regular and Co-op), Honours Environmental Sciences (Ecology Specialization) and Honours Biology (Regular and Co-op). View the degrees and programs. More information about our graduate programs is available on our graduate program site.

Learn more about the Department of Biology's vision/strategic plan.

News

  1. Mar. 30, 2021Professor Mark Servos receives grant to track anit-depressants in wild fish

    On Monday, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced funding for almost $3M to study the effects of contaminants on aquatic ecosystems across Canada.

  2. Mar. 22, 2021Mark Servos awarded over $1 million for testing COVID-19 in wastewater

    Since the early days of the pandemic, Professor Mark Servos and his team have been applying their knowledge of measuring water contamination to help public health officials understand the movement of SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 – within municipal wastewater.

  3. Mar. 4, 2021Canadian Foundation for Innovation invests in solving the challenges the world faces today
    Inside the WATERlab being built - a series of large tanks half filled with water

    From the smallest of nanomaterials to the edges of our known galaxy, and every water droplet in between, researchers in the Faculty of Science are pushing the boundaries of knowledge.

Read all news

Events

  1. Apr. 20, 2021Notice of MSc Defence

    Ms. Cory Savage will defend her M.Sc. thesis on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 1:00p.

    Title: Application of artificial substrate samplers to assess enrichment of metals of concern by river floodwaters to lakes across the Peace-Athabasca Delta

    Supervisors: Dr. Roland Hall & Dr. Brent Wolfe (WLU)

  2. Apr. 21, 2021Notice of MSc Defence

    Mr. Timothy Shardlow will defend his M.Sc. thesis on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 1:00p.

    Title:  Identification and characterization of toxic cyanobacteria in two maritime watersheds within forested regimes in North America

    Supervisors: Dr. Kirsten Müller & Dr. Monica Emelko

  3. May 11, 2021Notice of PhD Defence

    Ms. Courtney Robichaud will defend her Ph.D. thesis on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 1:30p.

    Title: Multi-trophic effects if invasive species suppression in a costal wetland

    Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Rooney

All upcoming events