Botanist Career Requirements
Botany is one of many career choices in the sciences. Botanists study various aspects of plants and their interaction with their surroundings.
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Duties
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Be prepared for intensive research--both inside a laboratory and outdoors in the field. Some develop or test products to determine their affects on plants. Advancements in biotechnology allow gene transformation to increase crop yield or render a plant resistant to disease, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Choices
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Choose from a variety of specializations. A career in agronomy involves rigorous research in the use of plants for food, animal feed and fuel. Other botanists identify and classify plants or focus on their structure and functions of individual parts.
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Character Traits
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Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. Field research can be in difficult surroundings or weather conditions. Have an eye for detail, persistence, patience, teamwork and the ability to work well under strict deadlines. Good communication and writing skills are important.
Education
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Study biology, math, physics and computer and environmental sciences. Earn at least a bachelor's degree in botany, biology or plant science, recommends the Botanical Society of America A Ph.D. or master's degree increases pay and job opportunities.
Job Outlook and Pay
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The BLS expects average job growth (9 percent) from 2006 to 2016. Federal government botanists in 2007 earned an annual average of $67,218, reports the BLS. This is consistent with the $70,000 national average indeed.com reported in December 2009.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Josef F. Stuefer
