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Botanist

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Botanists, or Plant Biologists, study all forms of plant life, including fungi and algae, in the laboratory or in their natural environment. They work for a wide range of industries including agriculture, environmental conservation, forestry, pharmaceuticals and food science.

The Work

You could work in one of a number of specialist areas including:

You could be:

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary depending on:

Salaries for Botanists vary depending on the type of work they do. Starting salaries for graduates tend to be around £24,000 a year. For research posts, pay can be up to around £30,000 a year while a senior research post can be between £35,000 and £45,000 a year.

There are opportunities in both the public and private sectors and pay rates will vary.

Conditions

Workforce Employment Status

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Useful Subjects

Getting In

Botanists work for a variety of organisations including government research institutes, universities, environmental consultancies, conservation organisations, botanical gardens and collections and the food industry. Look for jobs in journals such as New Scientist, Nature or Horticulture Week.

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

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Job Outlook Scotland

Employment

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Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland
2024
3914
3.5 %
RISE
2029
4051
  United Kingdom
2024
45630
4.8 %
RISE
2029
47823

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What Does it Take?

You need to be:

You should have:

Training

Getting On

Video

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland
Tel: 07725 862957
E-mail: enquiries@bsbi.org
Website: http://www.bsbi.org
Twitter: @BSBIbotany
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BSBI2011/

Lantra Scotland
Tel: 024 7669 6996
E-mail: scotland@lantra.co.uk
Website: https://www.scotland.lantra.co.uk/
Twitter: @LantraScotland
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lantrascotland/

Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based sector.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE)
Tel: 0131 248 2909
Website: http://www.rbge.org.uk
Twitter: @TheBotanics
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebotanics/?ref=ts

The National Botanic Gardens in Scotland offer a range of seminars,events and courses at various sites throughout the year. They may also be able to offer suitable voluntary work or work placements.

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Career Sectors

Biology

Chemistry and Materials Science

Food Science and Technology

Mathematics and Statistics

Physics

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