What Does a Botanist Do?

Get access to the job designation, duty and responsibility, employment, work schedule, qualifications, technical skills and pay scale of a Botanist

Job designation: - Botanist

Botanists study the evolution, reproduction, processes and relationships of plants with the environment and other life forms. They conduct research and fieldwork, analyze information, and can lecture to students or write reports on their findings.

Duties and responsibilities of a Botanist

The botanist also studies plants and their parts for medicinal purposes or whether they are fit for human consumption and for various similar tasks. The botanist is an expert in plants and biological life. His research area is vast, including the study of over three hundred thousand different plant species, from ground mosses to giant sequoias. 

• Study of plants, their environment, relationships, characteristics and processes.  

• Perform field work, collect and analyze plant samples, and record observations.  

• Study the effects of climate, pollutants, pests and other problems on various plant species.  

• Analyze plant responses and report potential trends, interests or concerns.  

• Promoting the development of desirable traits in plants through breeding techniques.

Places of employment for a Botanist

• College and Universities

• Biotech firms

• Research institutes

Work schedule of a Botanist

Some work mainly in laboratories and offices, while other botanists, such as those working in rehabilitation or agriculture, spend most of their time working outdoors. They can work in cities, near farms, or in the wilderness. They usually work full time sometimes. Devote more than 40 hours a week.

Qualifications required to become a Botanist

There are many Bachelors and Master's in Botany programs throughout India, as well as renowned universities in India that provide quality education in undergraduate, graduate and continuing education courses.

Under-graduate courses to become a Botanist

• Bachelor in Science (Botany) 

• Bachelor in Science (Plant Biology) 

• Bachelor in Science (Plant Biotechnology)

Eligibility to pursue the course: -

• Any student who graduates from high school or grade 10 + 2 in the core subjects of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics is eligible for a degree in Botany. 

• Good institutions require a minimum admission of 55 to 60. 

• The admission process is merit-based and has certain thresholds set by universities. 

• Some colleges have their own entrance tests for admission to honors courses.

Entrance-exams to be taken to pursue the course

• BHU ET

• OUAT

• GSAT

Institutes which are offering these courses 

• Hindu College

• Miranda House

• Hansraj College

• Fergusson College

• Jain University

Post-graduate courses for a Botanist

• M. Sc (Botany)
  
  

Eligibility to pursue the course: -

• The candidate must have an Honors Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Botany, Biological Sciences, or Life Sciences, however Honors students in Zoology can also apply. 

• Applicants must complete at least 50% grades, but some very good colleges also require 55% grades. 

• Applicants must enter the course after at least 10 + 2 + 3 years of continuing education with a biosciences degree of 10 + 2.

Entrance-exams to be taken to pursue the course

• BHU PET

• DU ET

• CUCET

• LPU NEST

• TUEE

Institutes which are offering these courses 

• Fergusson College, Pune

• Mount Carmel College, Bangalore

• Hindu College, Delhi

• PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore

• St Joseph's College, Bangalore

Key/Technical skills

• The person must have knowledge of biology and chemistry, which are the main subjects of botany   

• Strong research skills that help in projects and help to better understand plants.   

• People should always pay attention to details, what the other person says can be useful in their work. 

•  A person must be able to cope with difficult or unexpected situations when working outdoors / in the field  

• Communication skills are necessary, you need to know how to communicate with others, explain how anyone who can understand

Salary expectations

• Average salary: - Rs. 5 lakhs per annum

• Entry level salary: - Rs. 2 lakhs per annum

• Experienced-level salary: - Rs. 10 lakhs per annum

Process of getting the job of a Botanist

• Placement from colleges, universities and other recognised institutions

• Job searching on linkedin or Indeed for Botanist posts

• Checking out any institution’s profile and requirements for a Botanist

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