With this, though, employers of botanists typically require candidates to possess a minimum of a bachelor's degree to be eligible for consideration, and these degrees often take four years to complete. From here, graduates may need to pursue additional training and gain a few years of experience in entry-level roles in environmental science to serve as botanists. Alternatively, some candidates pursue advanced education through graduate studies to start their careers in botany.
This educational path can add two to seven years of training to the trajectory of a prospective botanist's career. Therefore, becoming a botanist can take between four and 11 years to accomplish simply based on the educational requirements for this role. The responsibilities of a botanist vary widely depending on their area of specialization, level of experience and place of employment.
For instance, botanists can focus their work in plant ecology, physiology, taxonomy, genetics, systematics, molecular biology, reproductive biology, paleobotany or ethnobotany depending on their professional interests. Therefore, while most botanists share a few essential duties, they may work in different capacities. Here are a few examples of duties that botanists may assume on a day-to-day basis depending on the roles they assume:. Field research: Those botanists who conduct fieldwork and perform research may collect data, perform vegetation and habitat assessments, form inventories of species, map environmental delineations and write about their findings.
Curation and research: Botanists who work for botanical organizations may manage plant collections, curate species, propagate plants, conduct strategic research projects, manage volunteers, lead conservation initiatives and deliver environmental education.
Related: Jobs for Botanists and Plant Scientists. Prospective botanists often pursue one of two educational paths to jumpstart their careers as these professionals typically need specific credentials and skills to succeed in their roles. Here's an outline of these educational paths to help you gain a better understanding of the degree requirements for botanists:. Some botanists start their careers with only undergraduate training.
These candidates may earn bachelor's degrees in relevant fields such as biology, environmental science, horticulture, chemistry or agricultural studies. These courses can help students gain a foundation of knowledge in plant science that they can apply when working in the field of botany. From here, these students may pursue experiential learning opportunities such as internships, research fellowships or jobs through which they can develop their skills on the job and situate themselves as professionals.
These experiences can often serve as a basis for entry-level employment eligibility in botany once students graduate with their bachelor's degrees.
What are botanist education requirements? Photo by Holly Mandarich on Unsplash. Some botanists may also choose to become professionally certified in their region or country. When starting a career as a botanist, real-life experience can greatly increase your chances of landing a job.
We recommend gaining experience to complement your study through internships, volunteering and other work experience schemes. How do I get a botany degree? A Ficus lyrata leaf in the sunlight. Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash. What are the top botanist skills? Pick a botanist job type of interest to explore skills and experience employers are looking for.
Experience Fieldwork experience and data collection Experience with field survey methods e. Ecological consultancy Specialist skills Plant identification e. What societies and professional organisations of botanists exist? Rupert Koopman, proudly Fynbos-ian. Credit: The Table Mountain Fund.
There are s of societies and professional organisations for botanists worldwide. Here are a few to get you started:. Meet botanist role models. Photo by JR P on Flickr. George Washington Carver , an African-American agricultural scientist who improved the lives of farmers and promoted environmentalism, despite racial barriers. Alexander von Humboldt , a plant explorer who helped inform natural history and biogeography.
Search all the latest botanist jobs. Conservation Careers. What is a botanist? What is a botanist vs. What is the average botanist salary? How hard is it to become a botanist? How long does it take to become a botanist?
Botanists tend to work in specialized fields that require research and a passion for the work, which is why job satisfaction is so high. Further benefits are found in independence, stimulating work environment, travel opportunities, and beautiful surroundings. The charts below are based on the Bureau of Labor Statistic s data for plant scientists.
They cover the top-paying industries for botanists, the top-paying states, and those with the highest employment. It takes time to build up to a career that pays 6 figures. Especially within the research field, salaries for senior-level botanists reach 6 figures quite often. If you put the work in, botany will reward you. Job prospects and field growth for botany as a whole looks steady and strong. What does a botanist study? Where do they learn how to study plants? A four-year botany degree is the base requirement for becoming a botanist.
How many years to become a botanist depends on your ultimate trajectory. Just keep in mind that undergraduate research opportunities plus a year or more of work experience will give you an edge on the competition as a candidate when you graduate. If you continue education after undergraduate, choose a graduate school based on your research interests.
Extracurricular activities that stand out are science fairs and clubs. A Wildlife Conservation major with a focus on botany is also widely recommended. Coursework in topics like plant ecology , plant anatomy , plant molecular biology , ecosystems , cell biology , plant development biology , and environmental biology is advisable.
Botany is an influential field of study and, although it has always been important, it now has the capability to change the world as we know it. America's Environmental College is a registered trademark of Unity College. Search for:. How to Become a Botanist April 28, What Is A Botanist? What Does a Botanist Do? Botanist Skills Botany is a science that requires a certain skill set, including: Research and analytical skills Critical evaluation skills Communication skills Attention to detail Logical thinking Aside from the skills required to be a botanist, there are really just two required personal attributes: F irst, botany requires problem solvers.
Duties of a Botanist There are a variety of jobs a botanist can have, which means their daily duties may look very different. There are some common duties that most botanists can expect: Studying plants Conducting fieldwork Testing plants and analyzing responses Working with others Managing research groups and resources Entry-Level Botanist Job Description To get a feel for what career growth in this field looks like, consider the difference between entry-level and senior-level positions.
Travel times a month Where Do Botanists Work? Forest Service U. Working Environment There is a wide range of opportunities available to a botanist. Job Satisfaction Botanists tend to work in specialized fields that require research and a passion for the work, which is why job satisfaction is so high.
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