Botanist

Botanists interested in ecology study interactions of plants with other organisms and the environment.

Summary

Because the field is so broad, there are many kinds of plant biologists and many different career and study opportunities available. Botanists interested in ecology study interactions of plants with other organisms and the environment. Other field botanists search to find new species or do experiments to discover how plants grow under different conditions. Some botanists study the structure of plants. They may work in the field, concentrating on the pattern of the whole plant. Others use microscopes to study the most detailed fine structure of individual cells. Many botanists do experiments to determine how plants convert simple chemical compounds into more complex chemicals. They may even study how genetic information in DNA controls plant development. Botanists study processes that occur on a time scale ranging from fractions of a second in individual cells to those that unfold over eons of evolutionary time.

The results of botanical research increase and improve our supply of medicines, foods, fibers, building materials, and other plant products. Conservationists use botanical knowledge to help manage parks, forests, rangelands, and wilderness areas. Public health and environmental protection professionals depend on their understanding of plant science to help solve pollution problems.

Educational Requirements

A number of bachelor degrees can qualify students for the botanist and plant pathology profession. Depending on the area of specialization (explore through the link below), related degrees in biology, chemistry, and botany can qualify students to enter the profession.

Salary Information 2018

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salary for a Botanist in 2018 was widely variable. The bottom 10% of earner made less than $38,570, the median salary was $63,950, and the top 10% of earners made more than $115,400. This variance is due in part to differences in education level, experience, and employer location.

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Information retrieved from Payscale: Average Botanist Salary and Botanical Society of America.