Plant Scientist
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Plant Scientists conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops and agricultural plants or trees, shrubs, and nursery stock, their growth in soils, and control of pests (O*NET Online). Plant science is the study of any plant system. Two ongoing areas of innovation are: creating tools that protect crops from insects, weeds and diseases; and developing stronger, healthier, more useful varieties of crops. Both help farmers sustainably grow healthy foods. (CropLife Canada)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information
- Interview: Crop Researcher - from StudyinCanada.com
- Sokanu - occupational profile and videos
- Plant Scientist / Field Agronomist - AgExplorer profile (FFA & Discovery Education)
- Careers in Plant Pathology - American Phytopathological Society
- Grow Your Future (pdf) - career brochure from the Crop Science Society of America
- Plant Science 101 - from CropLife Canada
- Career Profiles from AgCareers.com:
- Article: Fruitful Pursuits: Research Careers in Plant Science - Science Careers
- Article: Improving Plant Performance - Science Careers profile of a Research Coordinator at a biotech start-up
Education
U of M Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar & Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
Faculty and Department Homepages
Visit U of M's faculty and department homepage to learn about program application deadlines and processes, as well as additional in-house resources and opportunities.
- Department of Plant Science - Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
- Department of Biological Sciences - Faculty of Science
Exploring Other Education Options
- College & University Programs (North America) - Science Societies Career Center
- Search Directories
Information for foreign-trained Biologists & related Scientists - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis: Job Market Report (Winnipeg region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
- Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists
- Federation of Canadian Plant Societies
- Canadian Phytopathological Society - Manitoba Regional Group
- Crop Science Society of America
- Canadian Weed Science Society
- American Society of Plant Taxonomists
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Crop Life Canada - members
- Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council
- Canadian Federation of Agriculture
- BIOTE Canada - industry members
- Biosciences Association of Manitoba - member companies
- Biotechnology Innovation Organization - U.S. and international member directory
- Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
- Canadian Association for Plant Biotechnology
- Agricultural Institute of Canada
- Science Societies Career Centre (Agronomy, Crop Science, Soil Science)
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience:
- Agricultural Institute of Canada
- Canadian Journal of Plant Science
- CFIA scientists seek the Barcode of Life - The Science of Health series from the Government of Canada
- Article: An Insiders View of Corporate Plant Biotechnology - Science Careers magazine
- Agriculture Canada Online - daily news, newspapers and magazines
- Career Resources - from the American Society of Agronomy
- American Society of Agronomy
- International Plant Nutrition Institute
- Canadian Society of Agronomy
- Agriculture Career Guide - industry and employer insights from TalentEgg.ca