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Botanists study all forms of plant life.
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
You could specialise in:
Your work will vary depending on your role, but could include:
You could work at a university, at a research facility or in a laboratory.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and you'll travel often.
You can get into this job through:
You'll usually need a degree in a subject like:
You'll also need a postgraduate qualification, like a master's degree or PhD, for teaching or research posts.
You'll usually need:
It may be helpful if you volunteer with a relevant organisation, like the the Royal Horticultural Society and the Field Studies Council, before you apply for your first job.
You can find out more about plant biology through the Royal Society of Biology.
With experience in industry, you could move into a more senior position. In field research and conservation, you’ll usually need to take on organisational, management or advisory responsibilities in order to progress.
You could move into plant science, investigating biodiversity, crop production and plant diseases.
You could also become a freelance consultant.