Mycologist

OFO No: 213106

Other names for Mycologist:

Mycologist
Plant Environmental Biologist
Plant Morphologist
Plant Taxonomist

What is a Mycologist? 

Fungi are living creatures and have an effect on all other life forms on earth. They can be parasites, causing terrible diseases, but are also part of our global carbon cycle that helps us break down the waste humans produce on this planet.

Mycology includes the study of genetic and biochemical properties of fungi.  Some areas of mycology include:  medicinals (e.g., penicillin) and food (e.g: beer, wine, cheese, edible mushrooms).

Studies about the dangers of fungi (poisons or infections) are also covered.

Mycologists can enter a variety of jobs depending on what type of fungi interests them.

Further studies can be done to specialise in a particular fungi. 

These include: 

• Medical Mycologists – find and study fungi that cause diseases in humans

• Fungal Taxonomists – discover new and unknown fungi

• Food Mycologists – find and study fungi that causes food to go bad

• Plant Mycologists – study and control fungal diseases that crops

• Industrial Mycologists – study using fungi in fermentation processes eg beer

What does a Mycologist do?

• studies and researches one type of fungi
• discovers new and creative uses for these cheap life forms
• applies for patents
• improves technology and introduces new products by using fungi
• improves lives while assisting their companies economically

Are you … ?

• inquisitive?
• a person who loves knowledge and statistics?
• interested in fungi?
• interested in doing research?
• fascinated in science and technology?
• self motivated?
• team player?
• will to do laboratory work?
• a person with good literacy skills?
• organised?

How do I become a Mycologist?

BSc degree, majoring in Microbiology, BSc (Hons) in Microbiology, and an MSc degree, preferably followed by a PhD is what is required.

• UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA

BSc Biological Sciences: Microbiology

• NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

BSc (Biochemistry, Chemistry and Microbiology)

• UNIVERSITY OF RHODES

BSc General

• UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

BSc General

• UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH

BSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Minimum requirements:

National Senior Certificate meeting degree entry

Required School subjects: 

Mathematics, Sciences (life science and/or biology) and English

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Bryologist … or … Agricultural Food Scientist

Is becoming a Mycologist the right career choice for me?