Soil scientist
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:
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:
To become a soil scientist, you will need a good honours degree (usually 2:1 or above) in a science or science-related discipline. In particular, the following subjects may increase your chances:
In the UK, the University of Aberdeen is currently the only institution offering an undergraduate degree programme in plant and soil science. Soil science is most commonly studied within a broader undergraduate degree programme.
Entry with an HND or equivalent practical experience is only possible at technician level, which will mostly involve carrying out routine work.
A Masters in a soil or environment-related subject and/or a PhD is a good route for those following a more conventional degree. Several UK universities offer postgraduate qualifications, including the National Soil Resources Institute (NSRI) at Cranfield University, Lancaster, Reading, Aberdeen and Aberystwyth. Many of these are applied courses. There are also opportunities to do a PhD overseas as this area of science moves increasingly up the political agenda. A PhD is necessary if you wish to become a specialist researcher or lecturer.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
Try to gain as much related experience as possible through coursework and vacation or voluntary work, particularly in practical, soil-related field work, such as sampling and surveying, or laboratory work. It is also useful to become a member of a related professional organisation, such as The Institute of Professional Soil Scientists (IPSS) or the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) .
For field workers, emphasis is often placed on physical fitness because outdoor activity is demanding, but barriers to individuals with physical disabilities operating in field work positions are increasingly being removed. Field workers are normally required to hold a full clean driving licence.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Training is generally on the job. The training provided or encouraged by employers tends to be project-specific or to meet the needs of the organisation. As with most professions, emphasis is placed on continuing professional and personal development (CPD), with opportunities often available to expand skills and knowledge through various means: attending in-house staff development courses; studying for partially or fully subsidised further qualifications; or attending conferences, external courses and workshops.
Membership of professional soil science bodies, such as The Institute of Professional Soil Scientists (IPSS) or the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) , opens up opportunities to attend regional meetings and participate in special interest groups.
In addition to specialist soil science expertise, soil scientists need to be good at teamwork, communication, presentation, report writing, time management and IT. You may have had training in these skills at university, but soil scientists are expected to maintain them throughout their career.
Soil science is a diverse field and there are a vast number of industry-recognised qualifications in fields such as engineering, surveying, geology, chemistry and environmental science.
Opportunities for career development are very much dependent on the sector in which you work. Promotion in most areas is based largely on experience, scientific publication and performance.
Soil scientists working for non-academic research bodies, such as governmental organisations or private sector companies, can expect promotion in their first five to ten years in post. There are opportunities to advance within a technical role, with promotion to senior levels, or by moving into managerial roles.
Soil scientists based in private consultancies are often required to apply their expertise in a wider range of disciplines, as required by their clients.
Soil scientists in higher education institutions can expect structured career progression. After completing a PhD, progression is to a post-Doctoral position or a junior lectureship. From here promotion is to a senior lectureship or a readership, achievable within five to ten years, depending on your publication record and funding. Managerial responsibilities can be gained by applying for head of department or school/college positions. Research-based jobs are typically for fixed periods so progression is commonly dependent on moves to other projects or organisations.
Soil scientists who wish to become self-employed will need first to acquire extensive experience and to have developed a specialisation within soil science.
Soil scientists work in a wide variety of fields, such as:
The largest numbers of soil science opportunities are in specialist research centres, such as Rothamsted Research , Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) , the Macaulay Institute , and others funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) .
Soil scientists also carry out research and teach in higher education institutions, including universities that offer soil sciences postgraduate programmes, such as the National Soil Resources Institute (NSRI) and the University of Aberdeen , and more applied establishments, such as the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) .
Jobs are sometimes available with the:
Other potential employers include non-governmental environmental organisations, conservation agencies and industrial companies.
Opportunities for soil scientists also exist with environmental and related consultancies, which act in an advisory capacity for the whole range of industries outlined above.
Contact universities that run soil sciences postgraduate programmes, such as the National Soil Resources Institute (NSRI) and the University of Aberdeen , and more applied institutes, such as the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) , to identify where the majority of research is being undertaken in the UK and overseas and write speculatively to those that might have openings.
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