The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company (BTE) is a premier commercial/residential tree care company that employs over 500 arborist representatives and 3,500 total employees in more than 130 offices across the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

The Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories (BTRL) are the research, diagnostic, and technical training heart of the BTE. Our mission is to advance tree research and diagnose plant problems to improve plant health care for our clients. The BTRL is composed of laboratories in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cornelius, Oregon, and Reading, United Kingdom. The Charlotte laboratory serves as the central research and diagnostic center. It is housed within our 360-acre, Level IV accredited arboretum and research grounds containing over 32,000 accessioned trees and shrubs, including major collections of magnolia, oak, crapemyrtle, crabapple, holly, and many other key woody plant groups and rare plants for conservation purposes.

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401k retirement plan
• Paid time off and holidays

To find out more about what life is like at Bartlett, check us out on Instagram @LifeatBartlett.

The Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories are seeking a curious and passionate individual to work with a team of Research Scientists on advancing the field of tree pathology, especially as it relates to the field of arboriculture. The Plant Pathologist position is one of many professional Research Scientist roles at BTRL focused on developing and leading applied research programs in landscape plant health care, with a strong emphasis on plant disease management. This position combines scientific investigation, technical expertise, and educational outreach to support BTE’s arborist representatives, clients, and internal teams. The successful candidate enjoys strong support for research initiatives and the ability to respond rapidly to emerging needs.

While based in Charlotte, NC, this position often requires travel to study and conduct research on high priority plant diseases and disorders, and to serve regional BTE staff. This may involve regular travel throughout North America.

The successful candidate will collaborate closely with research staff, industry partners, and BTE offices to evaluate new management tools, refine plant health care techniques, and share findings through publications, presentations, and training programs. This position is ideal for someone with a passion for plant pathology, willingness to learn new areas of plant health sciences, strong communication skills, and the ability to translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions for real-world tree and landscape challenges.

Research: Develop applied research programs in landscape plant health care with emphasis on plant disease biology and management. This may include research on fungal, bacteria, viral, or nematode related diseases and disorders, but offers excellent flexibility to determine priorities. When appropriate, develop cooperative research with academia, non-profit, government, and allied businesses and organizations to evaluate new products and techniques for landscape plant care. Regularly publish appropriate research in scientific or technical journals, industry trade magazines, and company publications. Research projects are internally funded or supported through collaborations; grant writing is not required.

Technical support: Provide the following to BTE representatives and clients:

• Provide on‐site technical support and training to BTE offices, including field-based diagnostic support of tree and shrub problems
• Develop and maintain Pest Management Recommendations with emphasis on plant diseases (fungi, Oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, nematodes)
• Develop and revise Technical Reports (factsheets) for use by BTE staff and the public
• Create A/V programs on landscape plant issues and plant health care for educational use by company personnel and clients
• Develop articles on landscape diseases and plant health care for company website, publications and newsletters
• Answer requests for information from arborist representatives and clients via phone, text, MS Teams, and email

Training: Participate in BTE sponsored training programs through lectures, field sessions, and lab demonstrations including:

• Bi-annual technical update sessions
• Division sales meetings
• BTE sponsored client seminars and Client Days events
• Arborist representative and plant health care specialist training sessions

Miscellaneous:

• Develop and maintain contacts with other professionals and societies (e.g. American Phytopathological Society, International Society of Arboriculture) as appropriate through conference meetings, committee work, and cooperative studies
• Collect and maintain samples for research or educational use, such as a live culture collection, specimen DNA, riker mount collections, and fungal decay organism specimens
• Serve on professional boards or committees to represent BTE’s interests and expertise within the industry
• Lead and organize the activities of Research Associates, ensuring alignment with research goals, proper training, and operational standards
• Provide regular updates on research progress and field activities to the Director of Research at BTRL

Minimum Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Plant Pathology or equivalent program of study (including DPH/DPM)
• Proficiency with field plot and lab experimental design and statistical analysis
• Experience/knowledge of integrated pest management and soil science
• Professional experience or studies in horticulture and woody landscape plant identification
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience giving scientific presentations/trainings for many types of audiences such as scientific community, arborists, public, industry, etc.
• Overnight travel is required for research, meetings, and branch office technical support

Preferred Requirements:

• Knowledge of or willingness to learn field and lab-based plant health diagnostics such as culturing and microscopy
• A balanced background in both lab and field experimentation and including techniques in molecular biology such as incorporating use of microbiome, phylogenetics, population genetics, and transcriptomics into field experiments.
• Familiarity with chemical options for managing landscape diseases, including fungicides, nematicides, and growth regulators

The F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company is an Equal Opportunity and E-Verify Employer.