Botanist

Botanists study plant life at all levels. They look into how and where plants grow, study their cells, and investigate the impact that chemicals and diseases have on them. Botanists are involved in many areas, using their knowledge to benefit conservation work, agriculture and industry, for example.

Also known as:

Plant scientist

Work activities

Plants are essential for life on Earth, as they provide food, generate oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, and often have medicinal properties. Botanists study and monitor the distribution and health of plants. Their findings help to build up a local, national and world picture of our plant life, including how it is affected by environmental factors such as climate change, and the results of human activity such as acid rain from industry and overgrazing by farm animals. Some botanists travel internationally to do this work. For example, botanists visit rainforests to find out how many plant species there are, whether they have any medicinal properties, and, if they are threatened with extinction, how fast they are disappearing. Botanists are able to use their knowledge of plant DNA to identify and classify plants, and to assess their rarity. As well as laboratory research, their work could involve giving talks, lectures and guided walks to visitors, and providing and displaying information in a visitor centre. Some botanists apply their knowledge to solve problems in agriculture and horticulture.

In biotechnology companies, botanists are able to use the modern methods of genetic modification to change plant characteristics. This means artificially moving genes from one plant species to another, enabling botanists to add or remove certain characteristics. For example, botanists might try to increase a crop’s resistance to disease and insects, or its tolerance to humidity and temperature extremes. These methods have the potential to be of great benefit to food production, especially in developing countries. However, botanists are involved in careful tests to investigate the effects of the new genetically modified crops on the environment, and their safety for humans. For example, they monitor and analyse field trials, investigating the interaction between new and existing genes through cross-pollination.

Botanists also work in the pharmaceutical industry, where they use their knowledge of the medicinal properties of certain plants and herbs to create new medicines. For example, the origin of aspirin is in the bark of willow trees. Pharmaceutical botanists can use this traditional knowledge, as well as very modern methods and sophisticated technologies, in the development of medicines. They can use computers to model the effects of a biological compound from a plant on the human body, to see how effective it might be as a medicine. While botanists might have a considerable amount of fieldwork, for example, to collect samples and monitor experiments, a lot of their work is based in the laboratory. Here, they can use sophisticated equipment and techniques, such as electron microscopes, radioisotopes and satellite imaging. In some settings, such as a biotechnology company, botanists are likely to work in teams with many other types of scientist, such as toxicologists, pharmacologists, biotechnologists and biochemists. They could also be leading a team of technicians who look after the day-to-day running of the laboratory and support the botanist’s work. At other times, such as during fieldwork, the botanist could be working on their own for long periods.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a botanist, you’ll need:

Organisational skills to plan projects and experiments.
To be accurate and methodical in field and laboratory work.
Patience to repeat experiments many times.
The ability to explain results clearly and concisely, including in written reports.
Teamwork skills.
The ability to use statistics and other mathematical methods to analyse experiments.
Strong observation and problem-solving skills.
The ability to use a variety of equipment and technology, including computers.

One of the most important skills botanists need is the ability to identify plants. You’ll need the willingness to develop this skill over time, including through short professional training courses.

Pay and opportunities

Salaries for botanists vary. However, according to Glassdoor, the average salary for a plant scientist is between £27,000 and £42,000 per year (based on 7,000 salaries).

Botanists typically work a full-time week, Monday to Friday. They might have some late finishes and weekend work.

Demand for botanists is steady. However, relatively few botany graduates and postgraduates enter the job market each year. Competition for botanist posts is strong.

Employers throughout the UK are companies in agrochemicals, agriculture and horticulture. Other botanists work in the food and drink industry, the water industry and the pharmaceutical industry. There are opportunities in advisory and consultancy work, and in teaching/lecturing. Opportunities in marine and freshwater biology, ecological and environmental work are limited. Opportunities for botanists occur in towns, cities and rural areas throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in national/local newspapers and in science magazines such as New Scientist (which also has job vacancies on its website). Jobs also appear on environmental job boards such as Environmentjob.

Entry routes and training

To become a botanist, you’ll need at least a first (undergraduate) degree in a relevant subject. Botany and plant science/biology are available as single degree subjects. Courses usually include subjects such as classification, cell and molecular biology, genetics and plant breeding, ecology, plant physiology, plant pathology and biochemistry. You can also study botany or plant science as part of a general biology degree. Many entrants take postgraduate courses in botany (especially if their degree is in general biology). A postgraduate qualification will usually be essential for entering a research post, for example, in higher education. Some universities offer degree courses with a foundation year. This is an extra year for students who don’t have the specified science A-levels for entry.

You may be able to become a botanist by doing a level 6 degree apprenticeship in the role of laboratory scientist, if this is offered by relevant employers. This way, you will train on the job while working towards a degree, paid for by your employer, on block or day release.

Botanists can take short (one- or two-day) professional training courses to develop botanical survey skills. Organisations such as the Field Studies Council or the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI provide identification courses. Employers often provide on-the-job training in laboratory techniques and procedures. Some employers enable botanists to take postgraduate qualifications.

Progression opportunities depend on the area of botany you work in. In industry, you might be promoted to a supervisory or management position, perhaps with responsibility for training other scientists and technologists. University lecturers can take on a student support role, move into a marketing position within the college or university, or move into management, for example. Experienced botanists can become self-employed consultants, for example, giving advice to conservation charities or local authorities, and government departments and agencies.

Qualifications

For entry to a degree in botany or plant science, the usual minimum requirement is:

Two to three A-levels. Biology is usually essential, with at least one other science.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in your A-level subjects.
A further two to three GCSEs at grades 9-4. English and maths are usually essential. You might also need chemistry, if you don’t have this at A-level.

To get onto a degree apprenticeship, you will need two relevant A-levels, such as biology, plus GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: it is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have developed skills during relevant scientific fieldwork.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter a degree course, you might be able to start one after completing an Access course, for example, Access to Science. You don’t usually need any qualifications to enter an Access course, although you should check this with the course provider. A foundation year before the start of a science degree is available at some universities and higher education colleges for students who don’t have the science A-levels usually needed for entry to the course.

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