Greg Ruiz is a marine ecologist with active research interests in invasion biology, biogeography, and ecology in coastal marine ecosystems. Based at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Greg heads a research group of ~ 30 staff that examines patterns and mechanisms of biological invasions in marine habitats. To date, most of his research has focused on invasions in the continental U.S., with labs and staff on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts. With extensive work in high and temperate latitudes over the past 10 years, this work is now examining latitudinal patterns of invasions and expanding to add tropical regions. Greg has a PhD in Zoology from University of California, Berkeley and a BA in Aquatic Biology from University of California, Santa Barbara.