My name is Angela Brooks, and I am an aquatic biologist. I deal

mainly with freshwater fish and fish habitat. I work for an

engineering/environmental consulting firm in Toronto, Ontario called

Marshall Macklin Monaghan Ltd.

I don't really have a defined job description, but responsibilities I

have include; conducting environmental assessments for a variety

of developments including golf courses, subdivisions, highways and

bridges. Sampling the fish community and assessing the habitat

is just one small component of the job, but it is definitely the most

fun. I am also responsible for assessing potential impacts to the

fish habitat and devising mitigation and compensation strategies. I

consult with the regulatory agencies
 

the Department of Fisheries and Oceans) to receive approvals under municipal,

provincial and federal jurisdictions.

I estimate that I spend only 10% of my time in the field and the

remainder of the time in the office writing reports.

I have a B.S. in physical geography and an M.S. in

biogeography. My salary is in the range of $30-33,0000. I

have been working as an environmental consultant (biologist) for 7

years full time and spent many summers on contract

working as a field technician.
 
 

The most important piece of advice I can pass on to aspiring biologists is to get as much experience as possible. Like me, and many others, this means working at low paying jobs during the summer but gaining valuable experience. Employers aren't as interested in what school you've attended and courses you have as they are in the level of experience you have and if you are able to apply it to the available position. You have to be determined when looking for that first break. Don't get discouraged so easily...that is how so many people end up working elsewhere in another career.