Botanist Job Description
Botanists are biological scientists who specialize in the study of plants. One botanist may study mosses, while another does research on giant sequoias. Some may investigate microscopic structures within plants, while others look at the larger ecosystems in which the plants live. Like all biologists, botanists are highly educated in their field.
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Education and Training
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Botanists have a strong grounding in physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology. While some working botanists have only a bachelor's degree, many have a master's degree. Running an independent research laboratory usually requires a doctorate. Those pursuing graduate degrees in botany do coursework, fieldwork and other training as well as produce a thesis or dissertation under the supervision of experienced botanical scientists.
Subspecialties
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The field of botany is subdivided into various subspecialties. Genetics, for instance, is the study of heredity and variation in plants. Systems ecology looks at how larger processes, like nutrient cycling, work. Anatomy is the study of different structures within plants. Paleobotany involves the examination of plant fossils. Other subspecialties include biochemistry, biophysics, cytology, ecology, molecular biology, morphology, physiology and taxonomy.
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Work Environments and Employers
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Research may take botanists into the field, sometimes to faraway places to study plants not found in the United States. Other days may find them in the laboratory, looking at samples under a microscope. Botanists may work as professors or teachers, or they may be employed by biotechnology companies, government forest services divisions or large agricultural companies.
Practical Benefits of Research
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Many botanists share their research findings at conferences and in professional journals. The research has had numerous practical applications: improvements in medicines, foods and building materials, for instance. Their findings have also led to reductions in pollution and better management of wilderness areas.
Salary and Job Outlook
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According to the National Institutes of Health, Office of Science Education, in 2006 the median annual income for a botanist was $53,010. Salaries vary according to education, experience and employer. Job growth in botany is expected to keep pace with average job growth in all occupations.
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