1. Careers in… Plant Biology
Crispin Taylor, PhD
Robert Frost MS
Career Day
December 5, 2008

2. American Society of Plant Biologists
What does “plant biology” include?
Food
Research
Fuel and fiber
Farms
Gardens
The environment

3. American Society of Plant Biologists
What do plant biologists do?
Basic research
Corporate research
Agricultural research
Teaching
Conservation
Many other things…

4. American Society of Plant Biologists
Where do plant biologists work?
Schools
Universities
Companies
In the government
Many other places…

5. American Society of Plant Biologists
What skills do plant biologists (and scientists in general) need?
Curiosity
Critical thinking
Accuracy
Communication
Determination
Love of plants

6. American Society of Plant Biologists
What do you need to do to become a plant biologist (or any other kind of scientist)?
The longer (and harder) you work, the more options you’ll have!
And the more options you have, the happier you are likely to be!

7. American Society of Plant Biologists
What do you need to do to become a plant biologist?
Excel in math and science in high school
(4 years)
Get a Bachelor’s degree in science (with research experience)
(4-5 years)

8. American Society of Plant Biologists
What do you need to do to become a plant biologist?
Excel in math and science in high school (3 years)
Get a Bachelor’s degree in science (with research experience) (4-5 years)
Get a Master’s degree in science
(2 years)

9. American Society of Plant Biologists
What do you need to do to become a plant biologist?
Excel in math and science in high school (3 years)
Get a Bachelor’s degree in science (with research experience) (4-5 years)
Get a Master’s degree in science (2 years)
Go on for a PhD and postdoc
(another 8-plus years!)

10. American Society of Plant Biologists

11. American Society of Plant Biologists
What path did I take?

12. American Society of Plant Biologists

13. American Society of Plant Biologists
Pick YOUR path…

14. American Society of Plant Biologists
What do I like about my work?
Meeting people; communicating
Using my brain
Helping people
Making a difference
Working independently
Working in teams
Having time for my family

15. American Society of Plant Biologists
What is not so much fun?
Long hours
Busy weekends
Lots of travel

16. American Society of Plant Biologists
Where do I work now?
In a lovely house in Rockville

17. American Society of Plant Biologists
And what do I do there?
Work for 5000 plant biologists
Work with 22 staff
Publish two scientific journals, online and in print
Support education and training
Go to meetings
HAVE FUN!

18. American Society of Plant Biologists
Let’s look at some plants…

19. American Society of Plant Biologists
And now (if we have time) let’s look at some plants that MOVE…

20. Careers in… Plant Biology
Crispin Taylor, PhD
Robert Frost MS
Career Day
December 5, 2008