Plant Geneticist
Plant geneticists conduct research to understand, improve or create new varieties of plants or crops. Looking at a plant’s DNA, they can examine ways to improve shape, size, production level, and pesticide and disease tolerance.
Future Job Market
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Fair
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Good
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Excellent
Typical Employers:
Plant geneticists can work for agricultural seed and chemical companies. Some plant geneticists work in the university setting conducting research and teaching. There are also opportunities to work in the nonprofit sector conducting research to benefit those in areas where it is difficult to grow plants and crops.
Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations:
- Crop Science Society of America
- National Association of Plant Breeders
- American Society of Plant Biologists
- American Society for Horticultural Science
- American Society of Agronomy
- Genetics Society of America
- Biotechnology Innovation Association
Salary:
$89,000?
SAE Connections:
FFA Connections:
What Responsibilities Will I Have?
- Write research plans and objectives
- Create budgets for research projects and potentially seek funding
- Crossbreed plants to breed new subjects for trials
- Record data on plants in trials and publish reports on conducted research
- Identify genes and DNA that are responsible for certain plant features and functions
- Stay up to date on research and developments within the industry
- Tend to trials grown in greenhouses and fields
- Maintain thorough records of research conducted
- Look for ways to genetically engineer crops productively
- Obtain ideal genetics that meet the needs of customers or companies
- Serve as a liaison and spokesperson for government and industry
- Supervise the work of field and laboratory workers
- Identify, characterize, map and detect chromosomal location of potentially useful genes and DNA
- Prepare, package and label all outgoing seeds for dealer samples, pathology tests and internal and external trials
Recommended High School Courses:
- agricultural education, particularly plant science
- chemistry
- biology
- statistics
- mathematics
Education/Training Required:
A bachelor’s degree in plant science, horticulture, biology, botany or biochemistry is required. Depending on the employer and nature of the job, a master’s degree or doctorate (especially if doing research or teaching) may be required.
