Career as Botanist

Last Updated By Kamayani Meghawal on 30 Jan, 2023

How to Become a Botanist

About Botanist

A botanist a professional who studies who study various species of plants kingdom and the role of different plant species in the environment. Botanists have specialised knowledge about plants and work.

A botanist contributes to the production of various products like herbal medicines, herbal products, perfumes, beauty products etc.

Some botanists work in offices, laboratories and institutes while others work outdoors in which they are required to travel for research and analysis. They play an important role in protecting the plant species and the environment. They are actively involved in making people aware of the importance of plants for environmental control.

The scope of a career as a botanist is vast depending on their education qualification interest level of the candidate. It is a suitable field for those who have an interest in the study of plant life and want to work as professionals involved with plant analysis, study research, protection.

Botanist in India Highlights 

The candidates who are from the Science stream and wish to become a Botanist in India can check for the highlights below:

Details

Specifications

Eligibility 

Bachelor’s degree or PG degree with Science stream in 12th class

Average Salary

3 - 8 LPA (Depends on the job)

Industry 

Biological

Career Options 

  • Biotechnologist
  • Florist
  • Plant Geneticist
  • Field Botanist
  • Naturalist

What Does a Botanist Do?

Aspirants who want to opt for a career as a botanist have a wide variety of options and career options. Botanists are responsible for the collection, monitoring, surveying, and results of agricultural applications. They use plants and their applications to make food, fibre, and fuel and study the response. 

Botanists work with plant breeding and conduct experiments to enhance disease resistance, drought resistance, and nutritional value. They also work with managing a botanical collection, searching for new species, and identifying, classifying, and maintaining records. 

Eligibility to become Botanist

  • The candidate who wants to make a career as a botanist must hold a degree in botany/ biology or any other equivalent discipline.
  • Candidates with a master’ degree have a better career prospect as a botanist.
  • Those interest in research and experiment must go for PhD studies after the master’s programme. 

When and How to Start?

A candidate who wishes to pursue a career as a botanist must take some important decisions at an early stage of academics. After the completion of intermediate studies, they should opt for a bachelors degree in botany, biology, Floriculture or any other relevant course which is the minimum requirement to apply for job role as a Botanist

Throughout the undergraduate course, the candidate must keep refining the ideas and skills to gain advanced knowledge in the subject. They must take projects, labs and seminars seriously and get in touch with experts who have required experience in the field.

After the completion of an undergraduate degree, the candidate can either apply for job roles based on their skills and interest or they can go for masters course fro advanced studies.

How to Become a Botanist in India

When choosing a career to become a Botanist in India, students must have a Science stream in the 12th class. Students are able to make a career as Botanists after the completion of the 12th class, graduation, and post-graduation. Here are the details of how to become a Botanist in India. 

How to Become a Botanist in India After 12th Class

Candidates who are still school students and dream of making a career as Botanists in India can choose the graduation courses. Students are required to complete the 12th class with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology subjects as compulsory subjects. Students can opt for the entrance exams for Botanist after the 12th class to get admission into the best colleges. 

Entrance exams to become Botanist in India

Find the table below mentioned the popular entrance examination for Botanist.

ICAR AIEE

MP PAT

KCET

AMU EE

TS EAMCET

KEAM

Popular Undergraduate Courses for Botanists 

Students who want to pursue an undergraduate degree to become a Botanist can opt for the courses. Here is the list of the famous courses for Botanists. 

Degree Name

Duration 

BSc Botany

3 years

BSc in Botany and Etymology

3 years

BSc in Plant Biotechnology

3 years

BSc in Chemistry and Botany

3 years

BSc in Botany and Plant Pathology

3 years

BSc Botany and Zoology

3 years

BSc Botany and Microbiology

3 years

BSc Botany and Genetics

3 years

Agriculture Engineering 

4 years

 

How to Become a Botanist in India After Graduation 

Students can pursue the post graduation after completing the graduation degree. However, students must have completed the graduation and had Science stream in 12th class. Students can check for the post-graduation degrees they can opt for. 

Popular Post-Graduation Courses for Botanists 

Students who want to pursue an undergraduate degree to become a Botanist can opt for the courses. Students will need a minimum of 50% marks in the graduation degree. Here is the list of the famous courses for Botanists. 

Degree

Duration 

MSc Botany

2-3 years

MSc in Ecology

2-3 years

Master of Agricultural Resources and Management

2-3 years

MSc Biochemistry

2-3 years

MSc in Marine Science

2-3 years

Master of Applied Science/MSc in Plant Biotechnology

2-3 years

 

Types of Job Roles Botanist

There are many types of job roles to choose as a botanist. The suitable job role may vary for each candidate as it depends on various factors like educational qualification, the interest of a candidate, pay scale and job location. Some of the job roles, a Botanist can choose to opt are explained  below:

Ecologist: An ecologist realises the environmental threats to plants and trees and acts towards climatical control and protection of plant species. They play a major role in protecting the ecosystem.

Florist A florist is a professional who specialises in the sale of flowers and making bouquets They are usually engaged with companies involved with floristry or work with the retail firm or wholesale market,

Taxonomist:  A taxonomist identifies and classifies plant species. Classification is done on the basis of various physical and biological characteristics of plants.

Agriculturist: An Agriculturist develop and produce disease-resistant crops for consumption humans and also find pest and weed control solutions for crops.

Researcher: Some botanists work in laboratories as a researcher. They perform experiments associated with plant species.

Employment Sector or Industry

The scope of career for a botanist is high as there are various sectors where is a need of botanist. Some of the sectors where a botanist can get a job are as follows:

  • Agriculture sector
  • Pharmaceuticals industry
  • Wildlife
  •  Research Institutes
  • Educational Institutes

Top Recruiting Companies/ Agencies/ Organizations

A botanist can apply to various organisations and institutes in India whenever there is an opening for the job position. Some of the leading organisations in India that hires a botanist are as follows

  • Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH
  • Wildlife Institute of India
  • Forest Research Institute
  • Union Public Service Commission
  • GBPIHED Recruitment For Research Associate (Botany)
  • Bombay Natural History Society

Employment Sector/Industry for Botanist

Roles and Responsibilities of a Botanist

Career as a Botanist include ecological work, collecting and managing a botanical collection, searching for new species, identifying and classifying them. The roles and responsibilities also include recording and monitoring plant species. The detailed roles and responsibilities of a Botanist have mentioned below:

Collection: Botanist is responsible to collect all sorts of plants and researching them. They are responsible to collect various types of plant samples for testing. The botanists also collect specimens from all sorts of environments to understand particular properties.

Monitoring: Botanists are responsible to monitor different plant species to understand the plant’s physical properties. The botanist is also responsible to understand how a bio-organism works. They monitor the collection and the monitoring range from a few hours to a few days, weeks and even years. Understanding the functioning of a plant is an essential part of Botanists. 

Surveying: Botanists identify the plant species and do environmental surveys to get the results. They identify plant species, the natural habitat of plants, and other things related to plants and their life.

 

Skills Required for Botanist

To become a successful Botanist, students must have some skills. Here are the skills required to become Botanist. 

  • Interest in research and plants
  • Aspirants must have well-written and communication skills
  • An Interest in the conservation of plant life
  • Students must have a scientific research interest
  • Should have problem-solving skills
  • Great knowledge of and interest in Botany

Fees to Become a Botanist

The aspirants who wish to become a Botanist or want to know the fees can check the details mentioned below. 

  • The average fee of pursuing the MSc courses in India to become a Botanist ranges from INR 30,000 to INR 2,00,000.
  • The PhD programs for botanists can range from INR 10,000 to INR 50,000. 
  • The graduation courses in India to become a Botanist are from 50,000 INR to 3,00,000 INR. 

 

Planning to choose Botanist as your career?

Pay Scale/Salary of Botanist

The following table shows the pay scale of a Botanist according to the job role that they choose:

Job role

Starting salary

Mid-level salary

High-level Salary

Ecologist

Rs. 3,00,000

Rs. 4,50,000

Rs, 6,00,000

Florist

Rs. 1,50,000

Rs. 3,00,000

Rs. 4,00,000

Taxonomist

Rs. 2,40,000

Rs. 3,60,000

Rs. 5,00,000

Agriculturist

Rs. 2,40,000

Rs. 3,60,000

Rs, 6,00,000

Researcher

Rs, 4,00,000

Rs. 550,000

Rs 8,00,000

Books & Study Material to Become Botanist

Following are some of the best books to refer to succeed in a career as a  Botanist: -

  • Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification by Thomas J. Elpe
  • Wiley's Textbook of Botany
  • College Botany by B. P. Pandey
  •  A Class Book of Botany by Dutta A.C
  • Plant Anatomy by B.P. Pandey

Pros of becoming a Botanist

  • Aspirants who usually choose a career as a Botanist are those who love nature and are interested in working and studying nature and plants. 
  • The Botanist career offers a wide range of opportunities to work in the environment. 
     

Cons of becoming a Botanist

  • Being a Botanist requires extensive education and knowledge. 
  • The work Botanist includes a lot of work pressure.

Do you think this is the right career choice for you?

Take our test and find out if it suits your strengths.

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FAQs about Botanist

What are the roles and responsibilities of a Botanist?

A botanist is a person who studies plant kingdom and the effect of the plant species on the environment. He is responsible for the production of herbal medicines, herbal products, perfumes, beauty products etc. They also play an important role in protecting the plant species and the environment.

What is the eligibility criteria to pursue a career as a Botanist?

The minimum eligibility criteria to pursue a career as a Botanist is a degree in botany/ biology or equivalent. Candidates who hold a master’s degree have a better career prospect as a botanist.

What is the salary of a botanist in India?

The salary of a botanist ranges between Rs 3.00 to 6.00 Lakhs per Annum.

What is the scope of a botanist?

Botanist is a good career option for candidates who have an interest in plant life. They can be involved in plant analysis, research, and protection of the plant kingdom. They can find employment in various sectors like Agriculture sector, Research Institutes, Pharmaceuticals industry, Educational Institutes etc.

Where can a Botanist find employment?

A Botanist can find employment in various sectors like Agriculture sector, Pharmaceuticals industry, Research Institutes, Educational Institutes etc.

What are the top organisations that hire a Botanist?

Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Forest Research Institute, Wildlife Institute of India, Union Public Service Commission, GBPIHED Recruitment For Research Associate (Botany), Bombay Natural History Society are some of the organisations that hire a botanist.

What are some of the best books related to botany?

Botany in a Day by Thomas J. Elpe, Wiley's Textbook of Botany, A Class Book of Botany by Dutta A.C, Plant Anatomy by B.P. Pandey, College Botany by B. P. Pandey are some of the books related to botany.

What are some of the top colleges to pursue a career as Botanist?

Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University - (MJRP), Jaipur, Vivekananda Global University (VGU), Jaipur, Maharishi University (MUIT), Lucknow, IIMT University (IIMTU), Meerut, CUTM, Bhubaneswar are some of the colleges that offer botany degree course.

What are some of the job roles of a Botanist?

Ecologist, Agriculturist, Taxonomist, Florist, Researcher are some of the job roles that can be opted by a Botanist.

Who is a botanist?

A botanist is a professional who studies plant kingdom and analyses its relationship with the environment. He is responsible for the production of herbal medicines, herbal products, perfumes, beauty products etc. He also plays an important role in the protection of plant species and the environment.

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