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14 | CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE 15 | CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE

Research Geneticist and Berry

Breeder

SALARY: EXPERIENCE: DR. CHAD FINN
$80,000-$160,000 In the private sector, a master’s in horticulture, agronomy or plant breeding. › United States Department of
Agriculture – Agricultural
In the public sector, a Ph.D. in horticulture or plant breeding. Research Service

WHAT DO THEY DO?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) research
program Chad works in is cooperatively run with Oregon State
University. They work to develop new strawberry, blackberry,
blueberry and raspberry cultivars for commercial use. They also
work to collect and evaluate new germplasm, which may mean
traveling to South America or Asia. Chad spends the growing
season evaluating plant material to identify the best material
for commercial growers or for the next generation of breeding
“ FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB material. Chad works nearly every day during the season outdoors

regardless of the weather. He spends the off-season analyzing data,
planning crosses for the next year, writing papers, reports and
The splits of time... I spend
grants, and making presentations to growers and researchers in
months in the field and months
in the office. I work with plants
and with data. I spend time with Oregon and around the world.
academics and with growers/
packers.
ADVICE
If you have a passion and can
pursue a career in that area, that
is the best of all worlds. Get as
much experience as possible
looking at and growing plants. “ Started his
career at
Helped professors with the USDA-
Spent a lot of time their research as an Horticultural
exploring the outdoors, undergraduate student Crops Research
giving him an appreciation and was active with Unit
Realized people make for plants and biology extension faculty
careers out of creating
new varieties of plants

Realized the entry-
level requirement
Took over the family Studied horticulture at for what he wanted
garden at 10 years old Purdue University and spent to do was a Ph.D., so
and was “enthralled” by his summers working for the he earned a master’s
seed catalogs, featuring USDA-ARS fruit breeding and Ph.D. from
new varieties lab in Maryland the University of
Minnesota