Soil scientist: Job description

A soil scientist gathers, interprets and evaluates information about the chemistry, biology and physics of soils to inform and influence issues as diverse as agricultural production, environmental quality, human health, climate change, land remediation and biodiversity.

Soil, a natural and renewable resource, is vital to sustaining food production, supporting plant and animal life and providing a foundation for infrastructures across the world.

Soil scientists operate in a range of professional areas including:

• research for public and private sector institutions;
• government policy;
• consultancy;
• overseas development;
• assistance with onsite archaeological excavations and subsequent laboratory analysis;
• landscape design;
• forensics;
• site reclamation and remediation;
• conservation.

Typical work activities

Typical activities depend on the employing organisation, the sector in which they operate and how the organisation contributes to society, but most soil scientists are involved in some of the following:

• applying knowledge of soil science, including the fundamentals of the subject, such as the biological, chemical and physical properties of soils, and their spatial and temporal variability across the landscape;
• field work, including the collection of soil samples from a range of environments;
• producing maps of soil types and their distribution;
• monitoring or supervising laboratory research;
• conducting laboratory analysis of soil samples and research experiments;
• completing paperwork and cataloguing findings;
• writing research reports and making presentations on findings, including scientific research papers and non-scientific client reports;
• interpreting science to inform policy;
• integrating soil science knowledge into aspects of land management and ecosystems;
• keeping up to date with developments in soil science and related areas, as well as environmental issues and changes in legislation that may impact on your work;
• attending conferences to keep abreast of the latest developments and to network with people in the profession and in related industries;
• travelling to sites within and outside the UK;
• in education posts: writing proposals and making bids for new research projects and funding, making presentations, giving seminars, teaching and advising students;
• in consultancy roles: tendering for work, reporting to and advising clients, liaising with members of related professions, such as ecologists, environmental scientists, engineers, geologists and hydrologists.