Top #14 Career Opportunities in Plant Science & Biotechnology

Career Opportunities In Plant Science And Biotechnology

Last updated on August 11th, 2024 at 08:20 pm

Would you like to work in plant science and biotechnology, and be a food hero? There are a variety of exciting occupations available for people interested in a career in plant science and biotechnology, from research and development to working with farmers in the field. Although there are countless ways to help farmers and the global food supply, we have included ten below:

Careers Available in Plant Science

1. Agronomist

The “family doctor” of plants is an agronomist. This practitioner is multi-disciplined with expertise in crop rotation, irrigation and drainage, plant physiology, soil classification and fertility, weed management, insect and pest control, or soil classification.

2. Soil Scientist

A soil scientist investigates all facets of the earth, including soil formation, classification, and mapping, as well as the features of fertility, physical, chemical, and biological, and how these properties connect to the use and long-term management of soils.

3. Crop Advisor/Consultant

A crop consultant or advisor provides advice on crop management, including suggestions for seeding, fertilizing, controlling pests, and treating illnesses that may affect plants. Growers from all over the world can collaborate with crop specialists to increase plant productivity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual pay nationwide is $63,200.

4. Biochemist/Biotechnologist

Both biotechnologists and biochemists are experts in genetics and bioengineering. While biotechnologists concentrate on enhancing plant functions, biochemists investigate the chemical processes that result in biological phenomena in living organisms.

5. Horticulturists 

The domains of horticulturists are the art, science, technology, and business of cultivating fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, flowers, grass, and ornamental trees. To learn more about this career, go here.

6. Environmental scientist

An environmental scientist is in charge of managing and safeguarding the environment and issues that put it in danger, such as pollution. Ecological scientists gather information from air, food, water, and soil samples, analyze the samples to find environmental hazards and problems, and create strategies to deal with those problems. They could also deliver their findings to both public and private institutions.

The national average pay for environmental scientists is $71,726 annually.

7. Agricultural, Rural Development Specialist

An agronomist by training, an agricultural, rural development specialist concentrates on educating farmers in developing nations about sound farming practices, Integrated Pest Management, and the prudent use of crop protection products.

8. Plant breeder/geneticist

A specialist who modifies a plant’s genetic makeup to generate desired qualities. Plant breeding can be done in various ways, from cross-breeding plants with desirable traits to modern biotechnology through genetic engineering.

9. Floral Designer

A floral designer is responsible for planning and setting up real and fake display flowers. They can fulfil particular requests from clients, produce custom decorations for weddings, dances, funerals, and other occasions, and design their unique arrangements using a variety of flowers and plants. The national median pay for floral designers is $39,483 annually..

10. Plant Pathologist

A plant pathologist is a specialist who focuses on studying pathogens—dangerous bacteria, viruses, and other microbes—that cause plant diseases. This entails identifying pathogens and learning about their life cycles, causes of infection, effects on both people and animals, genetics, and disease control.

11. Toxicologist 

A toxicologist is a specialist who studies the harmful effects of chemicals on living things by combining knowledge from biology, chemistry, and medicine. The negative impacts of chemical, biological, and physical agents on biological systems are another area of expertise for this person.

12. Entomologist

An entomologist is a “bug expert” specialising in crop pest control without endangering beneficial insects like bees. Additionally, entomologists may create novel approaches to Integrated Pest Management that employ predatory insects to manage other pests.

13. Landscape Designer

A landscape designer, often known as a landscape architect, is in charge of creating aesthetically pleasing and useful landscaping for a piece of property. They can work with business clients to design public parks, school campuses, gardens, and other public spaces, as well as residential property owners to create lovely yards. To balance aesthetic appeal with the demands of the plants and the locations where they would grow, landscape designers must determine where to place different plants, shrubs, flowers, and trees.

The national average pay for a landscape designer is $56,838 annually.

14. Weed Scientist

A weed scientist specialises in weeds and can identify them, decide how to control them, and tell farmers how their herbicides may affect the ecosystem and plants.

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