Juan Sánchez (Marine Biologist, M.Sc., Ph.D.) has been actively working on marine sciences since 1994. He was a Fulbright doctoral grantee (1998-2002, State University of New York-Buffalo) with postdoctoral training in the USA (NMNH, 2002-2003) and New Zealand (National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, 2003-2004). Currently, Dr. Sanchez has an associate professor position at the University of the Andes (Bogotá, Colombia) directing the Marine Molecular Laboratory (BIOMMAR), first of its kind in Colombia. His research interests are in molecular ecology and systematics of octocorals and other coral reef organisms including fine level phylogenetic studies using predicted RNA secondary structures.