Is a PhD Necessary?
The question of whether a PhD is necessary to be a plant breeder is one I’ve reflected on deeply. My answer is no. You don’t need a PhD to become a breeder. I started my career in 1998 and officially became a breeder in 2000 after completing my bachelor’s degree. However, I didn’t fully realize I was a breeder until at least 12 years later.
Being a breeder is not about holding a title—it’s about the work you do and the knowledge you acquire along the way. Early in my career, I worked on tasks like anther culture, selections, and evaluations. Over time, I gained the essential skills needed for breeding, decision-making, and solving complex problems through hands-on experience, not formal education.
The Industry Standard
In the industry, most breeders do not hold a PhD or even a master’s degree. Many successful breeders come directly from diploma programs or agricultural engineering, without pursuing postgraduate studies. This is particularly true in industry settings where breeders may not even be considered part of R&D teams, and their contributions can sometimes be undervalued.
Postgraduate studies, while valuable, often provide limited practical experience. However, they do offer deep insights into specific topics and a broader perspective if the individual diversifies their focus. I’ve met individuals who used their master’s or PhD studies to gain a wide range of experiences, which later proved invaluable in their careers.
For example, postgraduate studies often involve exposure to advanced research methods, such as QTL mapping, GWAS, and molecular marker development. While these aren’t part of a breeder’s daily responsibilities, this knowledge can be instrumental in refining breeding programs and tackling specific challenges.
My Experience
For me, the path to becoming a breeder was shaped by my background and experiences. Growing up in Cuba, pursuing further education was often seen as an enjoyable challenge. I earned a master’s degree while working as a breeder and later began my first PhD. By that time, I wasn’t simply a student; I was a plant geneticist managing research projects funded through grants I had secured. Postgraduate education wasn’t a strategic career decision—it was simply the natural progression for scientists in my environment.
Interestingly, I never enrolled in a formal plant breeding course. My knowledge came from practical experience and informal learning from colleagues. Their terminology became part of my vocabulary long before I understood the concepts academically.
When I immigrated to Canada and started my second PhD at the University of Alberta, I had the privilege of forming incredible connections. I worked closely with renowned professors and collaborated with fellow students who are now great scientists in their own right. These experiences granted me access to a wealth of information and introduced me to individuals I might never have met otherwise—this alone made the PhD journey worthwhile.
Adding to this was the sheer joy of learning, which enriched every step of the process. It gave me not only technical skills but also a broader perspective on my field. Many of these experiences helped me to recognize both how much I already knew and how much I still had to learn. They pushed me outside of my comfort zone, broadening my horizons and equipping me with the tools to navigate complex challenges with confidence.
My career has been rich with experiences that extended beyond standard breeding tasks. I’ve worked on interspecific hybrids, conducted cytogenetic studies, screened for disease resistance, performed protein extractions, and more. Over time, I incorporated molecular markers into my work, which led to expertise in nucleic acid isolation, PCR, and electrophoresis. My PhD and postdoctoral work further expanded my skill set, allowing me to explore advanced techniques like QTL mapping, GWAS, and next-generation sequencing.
These experiences provided me with a broad perspective and deep knowledge that helped refine breeding programs, minimize errors, and identify solutions for complex challenges. While I firmly believe you can be a successful breeder without a PhD, the additional knowledge and opportunities provided by postgraduate studies can be transformative—if your organization supports your growth and innovation.
Conclusion
In the end, a PhD is not a requirement to become a breeder. However, postgraduate studies can add immense value by equipping you with advanced skills, broadening your perspective, and enhancing your ability to tackle challenges in breeding programs. Whether or not you pursue a PhD, what truly defines a breeder is their hands-on experience, problem-solving ability, and commitment to the craft.
