Dr. Jayanta's blog: Jobs opportunities for Botany students

Students with a background in botany have a wide range of career opportunities across government sectors, private companies, NGOs, research institutions, and international organizations. Here’s a detailed list of organizations that recruit botany graduates (B.Sc/M.Sc/Ph.D):

There are many prestigious institutions across India where a degree in botany is considered essential (or highly desirable) for recruitment, especially for research, teaching, and conservation-based roles.

1. Botanical and Plant Research Institutions

Institution	Positions	Area of Work	Educational Background
Botanical Survey of India (BSI)	Scientists, Scientific Assistant, Research Associate	Plant taxonomy, floristic studies, biodiversity conservation	Essential qualification: Botany/Plant Sciences
National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI, Lucknow)	Research Fellows, Scientists	Plant research, biotechnology, genetics	Recruits Research Fellows, Scientists with botany background
Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI, Kerala)	Researchers, Conservation Scientists	Biodiversity conservation, ethnobotany	Botanists often lead conservation and research projects
Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD, Manipur)	Scientists, Research Associate, Project Fellow	Biodiversity research in Northeast India	Botanists essential for regional flora projects
Wildlife Institute of India (WII)	Research Fellows in ecology, biodiversity conservation	Scientific research, wildlife management, conservation biology, and capacity building	They offer various opportunities for students and researchers in the field of Botany, Agriculture.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)	Research Scientist, Lab Assistant	Developing high-yield crop varieties, agricultural technologies, and training future scientists.	They offer various opportunities for students and researchers in the field of Botany, Agriculture.
Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB)	Project Assistants, Researchers	Exploring forest resources for potential bioactive compounds, Assessing the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems and developing mitigation strategies, Providing training and extension services to stakeholders in forestry and allied sectors.	They offer various opportunities for students and researchers in the fields of botany, forestry, environmental science, and related disciplines

2. Forestry and Environment Institutions

Institution	Positions	Area of Work	Educational background
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)	Scientists, Research Fellow, Technical Assistant, Project Fellow	Forest management, ecology	Botany essential for research roles
Forest Research Institute (FRI, Dehradun)	Scientists, Research Fellow, Technical Assistant, Project Fellow	Forestry, plant pathology, forest botany	Regular recruitment of scientists with botany
Wildlife Institute of India (WII, Dehradun)	Scientists, Research Fellow, Technical Assistant, Project Fellow	Wildlife, habitat conservation	Botanists needed for habitat vegetation studies
State Forest Research Institutes	Scientists, Research Fellow, Technical Assistant, Project Fellow	Forest ecology, biodiversity	Botanists recruited at state levels
Forest Departments (State and Central)	Forest Officer, Range Officer, Ecologist	Forest conservation and Protection	Through competitive exams like IFS or state-level forest exams.
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)	Research Fellow (for plant-animal interaction studies)	Some ecological projects require botanists too	They offer opportunities for students having Botany background
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)	Biodiversity Researcher, Project Associate	Works on conservation of biodiversity.	They offer opportunities for students having Botany background
Pollution Control Boards (CPCB/SPCB)	Environmental Officer	Environmental impact assessments related to vegetation.	They offer opportunities for students having Botany background

3. Agricultural and Allied Research Institutes

Institution	Positions	Area of Work	Notes
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI, New Delhi)	Scientists, Research Fellow, Technical Assistant, Project Fellow	Crop science, plant breeding	Botany background essential for many roles
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)	Scientists, Research Fellow, Technical Assistant, Project Fellow	Agriculture, horticulture, genetics	Botanists recruited for agri-research
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR)	Scientists, Research Fellow, Technical Assistant, Project Fellow	Plant genetic diversity	Specialized botany/plant science roles
Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI)	Scientists, Research Fellow, Technical Assistant, Project Fellow	Plantation crops, agroforestry	Botanists work on plant health, breeding programs
Department of Science and Technology (DST)	Scientists, Research Fellow, Technical Assistant, Project Fellow	Research as Plant Scientist	Higher Education with Botany background
Department of Biotechnology (DBT)	Scientists, Research Fellow, Technical Assistant, Project Fellow	Research Scientist	Specialized botany/plant science roles
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)	Scientists, Research Fellow, Technical Assistant, Project Fellow	Data interpretation in ecological and environmental parameters	Specialized botany/plant science roles

4. College/Universities, Schools

Institution	Positions	Area of Work	Educational background
All Colleges in India having Science stream	Assistant Professor	Teaching, Research and Extension Work	Botany M.Sc with NET, SLET,SET/ Ph.D. essential
All Indian University	Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor	Teaching, Research	Botany M.Sc/Ph.D. essential for faculty, project roles
Schools- State Govt., Central Schools (KV, Navodaya Vidyalaya, KVK etc.)	Science Teacher, PGT	Teaching & Extension Work	B. Sc, M. Sc essential

5. Statutory organization

Institution	Positions	Area of Work	Notes
Rubber Board India	Field Officer, Scientist	Extension work/ Field Survey, Research	Botany B. Sc/ M. Sc essential
Coffee Board	Development Officer	Extension of Coffee Cultivation, Industrial Collaboration, Plantation Management, Technology transfer	Botany M. Sc is essential
Tea Board	Development Officer	Development Officer Extension of Tea Cultivation, Industrial Collaboration, Plantation Management, Technology transfer	They offer opportunities for the students having Botany background
Coconut Board	Development Officer	Plantation management, extension, industrial collaboration	They offer opportunities for the students having Botany background
Tobacco Board	Development Officer	Plantation management, technology transfer, commercialization	They offer opportunities for the students having Botany background

6. Other Key Institutions

Institution	Area of Work	Notes
National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS, Bengaluru)	Plant biology, conservation science	Recruits botanists for ecological and genetic research
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE, Bengaluru)	Ecology, biodiversity conservation	Botanists required for conservation programs
Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON, Coimbatore)	Habitat and vegetation studies	Botanists essential for ecological assessments
Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI, Jodhpur)	Desert ecology and forestry	Botany background crucial for research

7. NGOs and International Organizations

Organization	Focus
WWF India	Conservation, Biodiversity Management
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)	Forest and habitat conservation projects
ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment)	Research and community-based conservation
Greenpeace	Environmental activism and campaigns
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)	Global environment-related programs
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)	Agricultural sustainability projects

8. Private Sector Companies

Company	Sector
Biotech companies (e.g., Biocon, Syngene)	Plant biotechnology, R&D
Agritech startups (e.g., Ninjacart, AgroStar)	Agri-advisory, sustainable farming solutions
Pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Himalaya, Dabur)	Herbal product R&D, Quality Control
Seed companies (e.g., Monsanto, Rasi Seeds)	Plant breeding, seed technology
Environmental consultancies (e.g., ERM, AECOM)	Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Restoration ecology

Special Note

✅ CSIR Labs like CSIR-NEIST (North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat) and CSIR-NBRI often mention M.Sc. Botany as essential for research fellow and scientist posts.

✅ State Biodiversity Boards in almost every Indian state (like Assam State Biodiversity Board) also recruit candidates with botany qualifications for conservation-related work.

Quick Tip

🔔 Students who want to expand their chances can build extra skills like: