Thinking of a Career in Plant Pathology? Hear Dr. Palmateer's Advice

From episode: EP40 - Growing A Better World with Harrell's Fertilizer

What would you have to say to anyone that, let's say is thinking about taking up to be a pathologist? Someone that's on the border line of do we jump in and go or do I not? What would you have to say to them now going through a career for over 30 years of being a graduate?

That's a great question. So it's not an easy answer, but I can tell you that I think I just got lucky. But one of the things you really have to think about because of the investment when you go to school, unless you're on a full ride scholarship or what not, it's a significant investment. And so then the decision comes to you first and foremost, do you want to do something that you're passionate about because if you're passionate and it interests you, you're going to be good at what you do. And like me, when I went in and the whole soil science thing opened the door. And then when I started learning more and I became just super interested in microorganisms and the interaction in soil and then the whole plant pathology side was like fascinating to me. And that's where I fell in to becoming a plant pathologist. But you have to think about where are you going to be able to fit in the standpoint of, it's not about making money, but you want to be able to have a quality life. Yeah, of course. And so you have to really find a side that's going to fit into the business side of things. And that's where sales is so important because if we didn't have sales, we wouldn't be here. Unfortunately, it's all about money. And so I guess my recommendation is to make sure that you're going on a career path where you know that you're going to fit into what's happening here and now and what's happening in the future to where you're going to be successful. And one thing I'll just point out in my world is I'm considered an applied plant pathologist because I do work with growers and I do like application work. Like it's here and now. But then on the whole other side is the basic scientists where they're in the discovery phase. All that's important. We are actually the number of applied plant pathologists are out there today is dwindling. And I guess maybe that's good for me because I don't have as much competition for what I do. But at the same time, I think we're going to need plant pathologists, applied plant pathologists.

I would say that I guess it's good for you in today's day and age, but it's bad at the end of the day because I feel like the more people that are like -minded in a room together or working on one project together, I feel like it can be so much more powerful for the outcome at the end of it because great minds don't all think alike.