Botany as a Career

Botany as a subject is related to the study of plants and a career in it would mean studying in-depth about fungi, algae, plants, diseases, growth,metabolism and structure between different groups.When planning a career in Botany, the job profile can include study of plants, research, working with industries, teaching self-employment, and being a part of many more fields.

A person who works in this field are called a Botanist. It will be the job of the Botanist to study plant life along with finding solutions to problems related to that of forest and agriculture. There are also botanists who deal with space travel agriculture, artificial environments, hydroponics and various other interesting areas of research.

Botanists are required by varied organizations ranging from multinationals to research organizations to hospitality and tourism bodies, depending upon the nature of their activities.

Various Botany Courses

There are courses like Bachelor of Science in Botany, Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Botany, Master of Science in Botany, Master of Science in Botany and Forestry, Master of Science in Applied Botany, Master of Science in Herbal Science, Post Graduate Diploma in Plant Biodiversity which one can study under the field of Botany and later be a part of this vast field.

Since the world of Botany is very vast field and it would take one person to specialize in a particular field to be able to share his/ her expertise on a particular subject. Some of the specializations available for Botany are:

• Cytology

• Genetics

• Lichenology

• Economic Botany

• Bryology

• Ethnobotany

• Phycology

• Phytochemistry

• Forestry

• Plant Morphology

• Phytopathology

• Plant Anatomy

• Plant Physiology

• Plant Genetics

• Agronomy

• Horticulture

• Plant Ecology

• Plant Systematics

Career Opportunities and Job Prospects

After duly completing a bachelor’s education in Botany, a candidate can look forward to being a part of the industry working as a technician, whereas, a candidate after completing his/her Master’s education can look forward to working with some industry giants or being a part of good research teams.

The amount of diversity in the field of Botany gives students to choose their specializations as per their choice, aptitude and interests. There is huge scope of being a part of this industry merely keeping in mind the amount of diversity it has to offer.

One can be a part of any reputed organization as a:

• Plant Explorer- Botanist with a passion for plants who could be a photographer, writer, expeditioner etc.

• Conservationist- Is an individual who works for the conservation of the environment and is often linked to organizations working for the cause.

• Ecologist-A person who works for the ecosystem and a balanced environment.

• Environment Consultant- Some Botanists qualify to work as environmental consultants, providing inputs and advice for the conservation of the environment.

• Horticulturist- A Horticulturist knows the science behind different plants, flowers, and greenery. They conduct research in gardening and landscaping, plant propagation, crop production, plant breeding, genetic engineering, plant biochemistry, and plant physiology.

• Plant Biochemist- Biochemists study the chemical and physical principles of living things and of biological processes, such as cell development, growth, heredity, and disease.

• Molecular biologist- Molecular biologists conduct research and academic activities. The research component involves the study of biological structures in well equipped laboratories with advanced technology to help them explore the complex molecular structures and their particular functions. The equipment may include microscopes, lab centrifuges, computers with specific software that allows them to analyse obtained data and many more.

The number of professions botanists can go into nowadays is endless. Moreover, the application of plant sciences improves the yield and supply of medicines, foods, fibres, building materials and other plant products. The knowledge of plant sciences is essential for development and management of forests, parks, waste lands, sea wealth etc. Few of the industries which one can work with are:

• Chemical Industry

• Food Companies

• Arboretum

• Forest Services

• Biotechnology Firms

• Oil Industry

• Land Management Agencies

• Seed and Nursery Companies

• Plant Health Inspection Services

• National Parks

• Biological Supply Houses

• Plant Resources Laboratory

• Educational Institutions

Pay Scale

The pay scale of a botanist is a very high, but theses scales vary for a botanist in the private and government sector. Needless to say, that the pay scale depends on qualification, designation, experience and skills of an individual. Those interested in being a teacher or researcher can expect a salary ranging from Rs. 18,000 to Rs. 20,000 per month. In other sectors, a candidate can initially expect their pay scale to be somewhere between Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month and will only increase with the advent of time and experience.

Universities/Colleges offering Botany Courses in India

• Thames Degree College, Hydrabad

• Khalsa College, Amritsar

• A.B.N. Seal College, West Bengal

• A.V. Kanthamma College for Women, Karnataka

• University of Lucknow

• Delhi University

• Allahabad Central University

• A.V.C. College, Mannampandal, Tamil Nadu

• Maharshi Dayanand University

• Banaras Hindu University

• Aligarh Muslim University

• A.V. Postgraduate College, Hydrabad

• A.V.V.M. Sri Pushpam College, Thanjavur

• Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur

• Acharya Narendra Deo College of Pharmacy, Uttar Pradesh

• Aggarwal Post Graduate College, Rajasthan

• Acharya Narendra Dev College, New Delhi