The BSPP and Education

A Career in Plant Pathology?

Have you ever considered a career in plant pathology?  Here we offer an insight into career options in the field and ways of achieving the necessary training through a series of links to web resources.

Introduction

As the earth's population expands, and global climate changes, increasing demands are made on our limited cropping area.  Ever present pest and pathogen populations continue to cause serious crop losses and, on a world scale, crop protection remains one of man's principal challenges. 

Already plant pathologists play a central role in reducing crop losses and demands for such skills must surely increase.  Thus, there is cause for optimism in careers in this area. The American Phytopathological Society Careers in Plant Pathology page offers some nice background information on the role of plant pathologists and the career opportunities available. 

The range of employers is broad and includes:

  • University departments i.e. teaching and research
  • Government funded research institutes.
  • Commercial companies and plant breeding
  • Agrochemical advisory/diagnostics

The Plant Pathology Internet Guide Book lists a selection of the above employers offering an insight into the work undertaken in UK and international Research Groups. 

Training

There are a significant number of positions in plant pathology for staff trained to the graduate or postgraduate level.  Opportunities for school leavers in plant pathology are limited.  

The following WWW sites will help in identifying the course most appropriate to your needs.

Undergraduate courses

Hobsons (www.hobsons.com)an excellent site that allows you to search for Universities according to course, region, price, size & location. The Hobsons Virtual Education Fair allows you to interact with global institutions online.

Education Course Advisory Service Worldwide (www.edcasworldwide.com) is an independent educational advisory service offering impartial advice on programmes and courses across the tertiary education sector in the United Kingdom and internationally. There is a fee for this service.

The Course Source (www.thecoursesource.co.uk).  This site offers comprehensive coverage of all UK degree courses. Users can search by a variable range of options depending on their needs.

Hotcourses (www.hotcourses.com) can be used to search and apply for courses in the UK.

UK Course Finder (www.ukcoursefinder.com).  This site allows you to search for a course either by subject or university.

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) (www.ucas.com).

Postgraduate courses and opportunities

Prospects
The official UK graduate careers website.  A key resource for graduate jobs and postgraduate training (and its funding).  It outlines the job description and activities, work conditions, entry requirements, training, career development, employers and vacancies, case studies and information sources associated with scientific careers.

Hobsons Postgrad
Once again providing an excellent service on postgraduate training centres and funding.

Hotcourses
A website that enables you to search for UK postgraduate courses.

www.FindAMasters.com
A database of postgraduate masters degree courses in the UK.

www.FindAPhD.com
The UKs largest database of PhD opportunities.

www.FindAPostDoc.com.
Postdoctoral jobs worldwide

Career/Employment opportunities

  • Plant Pathology Internet Guide Book lists current positions open.
  • Get 2000 Hobsons graduate employment service designed to inform and connect students and employers.
  • British Crop Protection Council produce a booklet Careers in Crop Protection available from their publications department. Email: publications@bcpc.org

Being a plant pathologist

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