how to become a botanist

To become a botanist, you must first earn a Bachelor’s degree in biology. While this doesn’t have any prerequisites, you’ll need to take certain classes in biology, chemistry and mathematics. After your degree, you can pursue an advanced degree such as a Master’s or PhD which requires even more specialized concentration in botany.

how to become a botanist

If you’re interested in plant life, then a career as a botanist may be for you. The job of a botanist is to study plants, conducting observation and experiments to find out more about the plants that grow in local regions and different parts of the world.

Where Does a Botanist Work?

Botanists work for seed companies, where they conduct research to enhance seed properties. They also work on genetic engineering or product development for biotechnology firms and pharmaceutical companies. Some work at museums, parks, and botanicals gardens. Others are employed as teachers at colleges, universities, and secondary schools.

Some work primarily indoors in laboratories and offices. Others botanists, such as those who work in remediation or agriculture, spend much of their time working outside. They may work in cities, near farms, or at wilderness areas. They typically work full-time, sometimes putting in more than 40 hours per week.

What Is the Average Botanist Salary?

Botanists, who fall under the broader BLS category of conservation scientists and foresters, earned a median salary of $64,020 as of May 2020.*

Botany Jobs & Job Description

Recent Botany Job Listings

Use the search box below to find all the botanist job listings in our job board.

Post to EnvironmentalScience.org and 100+ Job Boards with One SubmissionBotanist careers focus on the usage, development, classification and monitoring of the Earth’s plant life. Some botanists focus on teaching or fieldwork, while others enter either theoretical or – most commonly – applied research as there is still much that scientists do not know about the application of plant compounds to human life and health. This means that duties vary significantly from job to job, but the list below includes job duties found within a typical botanist’s scope of work.

  • Review literature, research, and field work samples to stay current in the field
  • Record plant supply and usage
  • Plan plant resource development
  • Forecast and monitor plant usage and green mass increase/reduction over many years
  • Use predictive computer models to aid in analyzing the best ways to manage available biomass in a given region
  • Evaluate the effect of environmental and land-use on plant mass
  • Respond to biomass catastrophes like floods, droughts, fires, and super storms
  • Evaluate different methods for remediation
  • Ensure soil, air, and water quality are monitored and concerns are being met
  • Conduct or contribute to climate impact studies

Botanists with professional experience are often given a leadership role in the workgroup. Many times, this results in additional tasks like:

  • Planning and coordinating projects involving the analysis and evaluation of biomass and its uses and impacts on local and global populations
  • Assessing and reporting on the impact of soil or pollutants on plant mass
  • Assessing and implementing different ecological models in order to generate information or test theories
  • Ensuring that recordkeeping and data collection methods are accurate for field and lab work
  • Negotiating use of federally owned forest and green resources
  • Supporting team members’ research
  • Establishing effective workgroup systems for communication and budgeting
  • Constructing funding and grant applications
  • Advising administrators and other stakeholders regarding botanical information
  • Providing consultation to external agencies, professionals, or researchers
  • Planning, organizing, and participating in outreach and advocacy programs
  • Designing and implementing team budgets, milestones, and benchmarks
  • Mentoring team members

To start out as a botanist you should have a considerable interest in plants. You should also have a good knowledge of the plant kingdom and their basic biology, ecology and anatomy. The next part of becoming a plant specialist is to obtain at least an undergraduate degree in botany or a related field. You can obtain both professional and amateur experience while still in school by joining clubs or volunteering at botanical gardens. If you want to go further add graduate studies or post-graduate work to your education by getting a master’s or doctoral degree in botany.

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