home

TATIANA ARIAS
Ph.D. Biological Sciences
Phone: +1 941 600 8746
email: tatiana.arias.garzon@udla.edu.ec

Homepage: https://sites.google.com/site/tatianatatianaarias/home

Orchids for peace: https://orchidsforpeace.org

Github: https://github.com/TheAriasLab

Through collaborative research and interdisciplinary engagement, I aspire to contribute meaningfully to the field of botany, particularly in the context of plant evolution, while leveraging innovative approaches to enhance our comprehension of neotropical plant diversity

Current appointments

● 2025-present: Associate Professor, Universidad de las Americas, Ecuador.

● 2024-present: Executive and Scientific Director, Foundation Orchids for Peace, Colombia. 

Other Academic appointments and professional experience 

● 2024-present: Research Associate, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, FL, USA

● 2023-present: Associate Editor, Applications in Plant Sciences, MO, USA

● 2021–2024: Research Botanist, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, FL, USA

● 2022–2023: Recruiting Editor, Applications in Plant Sciences, MO, USA

● 2017–2021: Research Associate, Sociedad Colombiana de Orquideología

● 2020–2021: Research Associate, Universidad de la Amazonia, Florencia, Caquetá. MinCiencias, Ideas para el Cambio. Horticulture and conservation of orchids from the Andean foothills.

●2019–2020: Research Associate, Colomborquídeas Ltda. BCF-LifeSciences, France. Orchid horticulture and the effect of biostimulants. Medellín, Colombia.

●2019: Research Associate, Sociedad Colombiana de Orquideología. Arribada Initiative and Shuttleworth Foundation UK. Monitoring the reintroduction of threatened species from the extraordinarily diverse Orchidaceae. Medellín, Colombia.

● 2016–2019: Group Leader, Comparative Biology Laboratory, Center for Biological Research (CIB). Plant evolution and biodiversity in Colombia. Medellín, Colombia.

●2019: ICCS Oxford Biodiversity Fellow, University of Oxford, UK, Interdisciplinary Center for Conservation Sciences (ICCS). Colombian orchids conservation and trade.

●2017: Visitor Researcher, NEWTON FUND, Earlham Institute, UK. A network biology approach to Colombia’s agriculture: The case of Brassica crops.

●2015–2016: Associate Researcher, Colombian Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BIOS), Colombia. Plant bioinformatics and genomics.

●2014: Visitor Scholar, The University of Washington, USA. Genomics and transcriptomics of Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae) at the Plant Development and Evolution Laboratory.

● 2013–2014: Postdoctoral Fellow, The University of Hong Kong, HK. Evolutionary development of Annonaceae in the Plant Systematics and Phylogenetics Laboratory.

Education

● 2007–2012: Ph.D. in Biological Sciences
Institution: University of Missouri, USA
Advisor: J. Chris Pires

● 2005–2007: M.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Institution: University of Tennessee, USA
Advisor: Joseph H. Williams

● 1995–2002: B.S. in Biology
Institution: Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
Advisor: Ricardo Callejas

Prizes and distinctions

● 2025: Talk selected for the Early Career Symposium, International Association of Plant Taxonomists. Latin American Botanical Congress, La Habana, Cuba. Title: *Plastome Phylogenomics of the Diverse Neotropical Genus Lepanthes.

● 2021: Best Spanish-Speaking Video for Environmental Education, amigos del Bosque
Awarded by: World Rainforest Movement

● 2017: Young Scientists Prize 2017 in Biology, Colombia
Awarded by: The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and The Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.

● 2012: National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant (NSF-DIGG), USA
Amount: USD $15,000

Teaching experience 

● 2025- present: Associate Professor, Genetics, Universidad de las Americas, Quito, Ecuador.

● 2020–2021: Adjunct Professor, Botany, Institución Universitaria Tecnológico de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia

● 2019: Instructor for "Intro to Orchid Biology" Course, Banco de la República, Florencia, Colombia

● 2019: Instructor for "Intro to Orchid Biology and Botany" Course Reserva Orquídeas, Sociedad Colombiana de Orquideología, and American Orchid Society, Jardín, Colombia

● 2019: Instructor for "Intro to Orchid Biology" Course, Congreso Colombiano de Botánica, Universidad de la Amazonia, Florencia, Colombia

● 2018: Instructor for Bioinformatics Course, Master’s in Biotechnology, Universidad Libre, Barranquilla, Colombia

● 2015: Instructor for Course on Biotechnology and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), BIOS, Manizales, Colombia
Focus: Biotechnology trends and applications in agriculture related to ICT

● 2015: Instructor for Escuela Latinoamericana de Evolución (ELAEVO), Universidad del Quindío, Colombia, Modules on bioinformatics, transcriptomics, and genomics

● 2008–2012: Teaching Assistant General Botany, Plant Systematics, and General Biology, University of Missouri, USA. Designed and conducted lab instruction, assessments, and authored lab activities

● 2005–2007: Teaching Assistant, General Botany, University of Tennessee, USA

Peer reviewed publications 

927 citations, h-index: 15, i10-index: 18

● Holguín Osorio M., T Arias, L Jiménez-Segura L, ID Soto-Calderón. 2026 Andean Fish inventories using an eDNA metabarcoding approach. Discover Conservation 3:16.

● Shawn KT, RS Abrahams, N Walden, T Arias, DR Kick, H An, A McAlvay, A Harkess, G Conant, MR McKain, PP Edger, MA Lysak, K Mummenhoff, IA Al-Shehbaz, F Lens, KP Hendriks, MA Koch, JD Washburn, JC Pires 2025. Mesopolyploidy as a taxonomic clade marker for mustard crops and relatives. Annals of Botany mcaf170

● Arias T, JS Moreno, S Reyes, M Llano-Almario, A. Serna-Sánchez, GA Iturralde, J Valencia, L Baquero, A Zuluaga.2025. Plastome phylogenomics of the Diverse Neotropical Orchid Genus Lepanthes with Emphasis on Subgenus Marsipanthes (Pleurothallidinae: Orchidaceae) BMC Ecology and Evolution 25:79. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-025-02396-6

● Arias T, JS Moreno, E Restrepo, M Alegría-Valencia, DE Cadavid-Morales, SF Alarcón-Vinasco, A Zuluaga 2025 Expedition Lepanthes Sw. (Orchidaceae) of Colombia: Discovery of New Species and observations on a curious case of flower polymorphism Phytotaxa 705(2): 115-148.

● Ackerman JD, RL Tremblay, T Arias, G Zotz, J Sharma, J Kaur, G Salazar. 2025. How to Make a Species Rich Family Sexual Attraction, Habitat Instability and Heterogeneity, Founder Events, Drift and Selection: a 

Recipe for Rapid Diversification of Orchids Plants 14:1193. https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/8/1193

● Ortega-Cuadros M, L Chir, S Aligon, N Velasquez, T Arias, J Verdier, P Grappin 2024. Dual-transcriptome of post-germinating mutant lines of Arabidopsis thaliana infected by Alternaria brassicicola Data 9, 137

● Arias T, JD Saldarriaga, H Arenas-Castro, I Soto-Calderón 2023 Reconstructing the Phylogeny of Calliandrasect. Androcallis (Fabaceae): Insights from the Inclusion of Colombian Species, with a Focus on the Enigmatic Taxon Calliandra medellinensis Systematic Botany49(2): 364-380

● Ortega-Cuadros M, S Aligon, T Arias, AM Vasco-Palacios, C Rosier-Pennevert, A Rolland, P Grappin 2024. First report on the seed immune response to fungal necrotrophs attack Seeds 3: 216-227

● Arias T, Chaux-Varela J, Camero MP, Calderon-Alvare A, Trujillo AC, Correa M, Zuluaga A, Perez-Escobar OA, Perdomo O, Trujillo E, Valencia J 2023. Checklist de las Orquídeas (Orchidaceae) del departamento de Caquetá, Colombia PhytoKeys 229, 21-46

● Arcila JE, CE Marín, M Ortega-Cuadros, JM Muñoz-Perez, T Arias 2022. A metagenomic assessment of soil microbial communities in a coal mine spoil-dump under reclaimed vegetation in La Guajira, Colombia Journal of Soil Sciences and Plant Nutrition 22 (4): 4377-4390 

● Ortega-Cuadros M, L Chir , S Aligon, T Arias, J Verdier, P Grappin 2022 Dual-transcriptomic datasets evaluating the effect of the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria brassicicola on Arabidopsis germinating seed Data in Brief 44, 108530

● Ortega-Cuadros M, M Tiago, L De Souza, R Berruyer, S Aligon, S Pelletier, JP Renou, T Arias, C Campion, T Guillemette, J Verdier, P Grappin 2022. Seed transmission of pathogens: Non-canonical immune response in Arabidopsis germinating seeds compared to early seedlings against the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria brassicicola.Plants, 11, 1708

● Muñoz-Perez JM, LP Cañas, L Lopez, T Arias 2022 Genome-wide diversity of northern South America cultivated coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) uncovers diversification times and targets of domestication of coconut globally. Scientific Reports 12, 2958

● Perez-Escobar OA, S Dodsworth, D Bogarín, B Sidonie, JA Balbuena, R Schley, I Kikuchi, SK Morris, N Epitawalage, R Cowan, O Maurin, A Zuntini, T Arias, A Serna, B Gravendeel, MF Torres, K Nargar, N Chomicki, R Cowan, MC Chase, IJ Leitch, F Forest, WJ Baker 2021 Hundreds of nuclear and plastid loci yield insights into orchid relationships. American Journal of Botany 108(7) 1–15.

● Serna-Sánchez MA, OA Pérez-Escobar, D Bogarín, MF Torres, AC Alvarez-Yela, JE Arcila, CF Hall, F de Barros, Pinheiro F, Dodsworth S, MW Chase, A Antonelli, T Arias 2021 Plastid phylogenomics resolves ambiguous relationships within the orchid family and provides a solid timeframe for biogeography and macroevolution. Scientific Reports, 11, 6858. 

● Arcila JE, R Arango, J Torres, T Arias 2021 Special Issue: Molecular Phylogenetics and Mitochondrial Evolution. Revisiting the origin of the Sigatoka disease complex using fossil-calibrated phylogenies: mitochondrial genomes suggest later diversification times and pathogen host-tracking evolution Life 11, 215

● Arias T, C Niederhuth, P McSteen, JC Pires 2021 The molecular basis of kale domestication: Transcription profiling of leaves and meristems provides new insights into the evolution of a Brassica oleracea vegetative morphotype Frontiers in Plant Sciences 12, 637115

● Arias T, DM Riaño-Pachón, VS Di Stilio 2021 Facilitating candidate gene discovery in an emerging model plant lineage: Transcriptomic and genomic resources for Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae) Applications in Plant Sciences 9(1) e11407 

● Morales-Briones DF, T Arias, V Di Stilio, D Tank 2019 The Complete Plastome of Thalictrum thalictroides(Ranunculaceae) and Chloroplast Primers for Clade-Wide Phylogenetic Studies Applications in Plant Sciences 7(10) e11294

● Botero K, T Arias 2018 Uso de las ciencias ómicas para el mejoramiento genético de cultivos. Revista de Ciencias Agrícolas Universidad de Nariño 34(1): 64-78.

● Zhi-Yan D, T Arias, W Meng, M-L Chye 2016 Plant acyl-CoA-binding proteins: An emerging family involved in plant development and stress responses Progress in Lipids Research 63: 165–181 

● Henriquez CL, T Arias, JC Pires, TB Croat, BA Schaal 2014 Phylogenomics of the plant family Araceae Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 75: 91-102 

● Arias T, M Beilstein, M Tang, MR McKain, JC Pires 2014 Diversification times among Brassica crops suggest hybrid formation after twenty million years of divergence American Journal of Botany 101: 86-91 

● Mayfield D, JD Washburn, T Arias, P. Edger, C. Pires, G.C. Conant 2013 Watching the grin fade: How polyploidy can illuminate cell biology Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 24: 320-331 

● Arias T, JC Pires 2012 A fully resolved and dated chloroplast phylogeny of the brassica crops and wild relatives (Brassiceae: Brassicaceae): Novel clades and taxonomic implications TAXON 61(5): 980–988 

● Arias T, JH Williams 2008 Embryology of Manekia naranjoana (Piperaceae) and the origin of tetrasporic, sixteen-nucleate female gametophytes in Piperales American Journal of Botany 95(3): 1-16 

● Arias T, R Callejas and A Bornstein 2006 New Combinations in Manekia, an earlier name for Sarcorhachis (Piperaceae) Novon16(2): 205-208 

● Arias T 2003 Architectural analysis of Vismia baccifera (roots and shoots) and Vismia macrophylla (roots) Clusiaceae Caldasia26(2): 333-358 

Other publications in popular journals or books

● Arias T and S Dalstrom. 2026. Santa Marta Reveals Her Secrets, Old Orchids Become Like New Again. Orchids 95(2): 144-149.

● Arias T, B Simpson, J Gange, F Rocha Vento, S Wetterer, M Calhoun, S Koski. 2025. Is it One Species, Two or Many: Exploring the Hidden Diversity of the Terrestrial Orchid Genus Sacoila in Florida. Orchids 94 (11): 916-921.

● Berry D, T Arias, J Fagler, BK Holst, A Lara, S McCourt, M Mcaughlin, JO Rominiecki. 2023 Orchid. Scala Art Publishers Inc. New York, London, and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Sarasota. 

● Arias T, and LE Mejía 2022 Orquídeas Para La Paz: Making peace with nature through sustainable development and biodiversity awareness in Colombia. Orchids September: 668-671.

● Mejía LE and T Arias 2021 Manual para el Cultivo Casero de Semillas de Orquídeas. Universidad de la Amazonia y la Sociedad Colombiana de Orquideología. Granted by Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Colombia.

● Mejía LE and T Arias 2021 Manual para el Cultivo de Orquídeas. Universidad de la Amazonia y la Sociedad Colombiana de Orquideología. Granted by Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Colombia.

● Mejía LE and T Arias 2021 Guía de Identificación de Orquídeas de La Reserva Natural Comunitaria Uruki, El Manantial. Universidad de la Amazonia y la Sociedad Colombiana de Orquideología. Granted by Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Colombia.

● Bouchardy J and Rose P 2021 The Book Global Biodiversity Festival: Arias T Perspectives to promote the conservation of Orchids Pag. 19 ISBN: 978-2-8399-3283-7

● Mejía LE and T Arias 2021 Manual de Horticultura Elemental para Conservación. Design and production, Reserva Orquídeas de la Sociedad Colombiana de Orquideología. Granted by Van Thienhoven Foundation

● Masters S, T Arias, N Flanagan 2020 Orchid Revolution in Colombia The Orchid Review. December Issue: 232-239

● Mejía LE and T Arias 2020 La Reserva Orquídeas: Protecting the Cloud Forest of the Northern Colombian Andes Orchids 89(11): 962-969

● T Arias 2019 Perspectivas globales sobre la conservación de orquídeas Orquideología 36 (1): 59-65

● Serna A, J Arcila, T Arias 2018. ¿Por qué estudiar las orquídeas desde la biología molecular? Tres casos que le interesarían a cualquier orquideólogo Orquideología 35 (1): 120-133

● Arias T  2017 Inventario preliminar de las orquídeas de la reserva biológica de la Sociedad Colombiana de Orquideología y perspectivas para el desarrollo de un programa de investigación enfocado a la conservación Orquideologia34 (2): 235-246

● Arias T 2017 Masdevallia hortensis Luer & R. Escobar Orquideología34 (2):165

Invited presentations 

Over 80 oral presentations at conferences and universities around the world: 40 as invited speaker. 

● 2025: ORCHIDS FOR PEACE. A bridge between biodiversity conservation and community resilience in the Neotropics. Vice-Rectorate for Research and Graduate Studies, Prof. Rafael M. Moscoso Institute of Botanical and Zoological Research, Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo Republica Dominicana. 

● 2025: WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ORCHIDS? Exploring the evolution of Neotropical epiphytes. Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso National Botanical Garden, Department of Horticulture, Santo Domingo Republica Dominicana. 

● 2025: Is Sacoila lanceolata a species complex? Keynote Speaker, Little Warm Spring Society Fundraising, North Porth, Florida, USA.

● 2025: Plastome phylogenomics of the diverse neotropical orchid genus Lepanthes.  Systematic Symposium, International Association of Plant Taxonomy, Latin-American Botany Conference, La Habana, Cuba. 

● 2023: My Career as a Botanist. Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students, Michigan State University, USA.

● 2023: Orchids of Colombia. Science Café, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Atlanta, GA, USA.

● 2023: Saber UH Convención Científica Internacional. Universidad de la Habana, 295th Anniversary, Simposio de Diversidad Biológica y Conservación, Habana, Cuba.

● 2023: Studying Neotropical Epiphytic Orchids at Selby Gardens. Englewood Orchid Society, Englewood, FL, USA.

● 2023: Research and Conservation Efforts in Florida Orchids. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Venice Orchid Society, USA.

● 2023: Research and Conservation Efforts for Orchids in the Greater Everglades Ecosystems. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Florida Native Plant Society, USA.

● 2022: The Evolution and Diversification of Andean Orchids. Biological Sciences Departmental Seminar Series, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.

● 2022: My Career as a Botanist. Plant Biotechnology for Health and Sustainability (PBHS) Graduate Student Fall Retreat, Michigan State University, Kellogg Biological Station, USA.

● 2022: Andean Orchids. Sarasota Orchid Society, Sarasota, USA.

● 2022: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens: Nearly Half a Century of Caribbean Orchid Research and Exploration. Association for Tropical Biology Symposium, Cartagena, Colombia.

● 2022: Making Peace with Nature: Updates on Orchid Research at Selby Gardens. Online Presentation: Link.

● 2022: Studying Neotropical Epiphytic Orchids at Selby Gardens. Venice Orchid Society, Venice, FL, USA.

● 2022: Neotropical Epiphytic Orchids: The Role of Morphology and Ecology in Their Evolution and Diversification. West Virginia University, Biology Department, USA.

● 2021: Orquídeas para la Paz. XII Festival por la Paz – V Foro Internacional Peregrinaje por la Paz, Peru (Online).

● 2021: Towards a Solid Orchid Phylogeny: Providing a Timeframe for Biogeography and Macroevolutionary Studies. XIX National Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Congress - XII Symposium México/USA – 2nd ASOB México Section Meeting, México (Online).

● 2021: Orquídeas Neotropicales: Perspectivas Evolutivas y Ecológicas para Promover su Conservación. Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.

● 2021: The Role of Horticultural Societies in Colombian Orchid Trade and Conservation. Global Biodiversity Festival, The Green Institute.

● 2021: Orchid Conservation in Colombia: Preserving One of Many Treasures of the Most Biodiverse Country on Earth. Global Biodiversity Festival.

● 2021: Neotropical Orchids: Evolutionary and Ecological Perspectives to Promote Conservation. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, USA.

● 2019: Recent Progress in Genomics and Biotechnology of Orchids: Implications for the Development of Bioeconomies in Colombia. Invited Speaker, Orchids Meeting, Jardín Botánico Jose Celestino Mutis, Bogotá, Colombia.

● 2019: Horticulture and Biotechnology as Strategies for In-Situ and Ex-Situ Conservation. 7th International Orchid Conservation Congress, Kew Gardens, UK.

● 2019: Protecting Colombia’s Extraordinary Orchid Biodiversity: Horticulture and Biotechnology as Strategies for Conservation. Zoology Department, University of Oxford, UK.

● 2019: Orchid Horticulture Trade and Conservation in Colombia. Workshop & Internal Advisory Committee Meeting, Oxford Martin Programme on Illegal Wildlife Trade, University of Oxford, UK.

● 2018: Using Comparative Biology to Study and Utilize Colombian Genetic Diversity. SIMABID VI, Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia.

● 2018: In-Situ and Ex-Situ Orchid Diversity Conservation in the Colombian Andes. Comahue University, Bariloche, Argentina.

● 2017: Horticulture as a Strategy for In-Situ and Ex-Situ Conservation of Orchids in the Colombian Andes. International Conference for Conservation Biology (ICCB), Cartagena, Colombia.

● 2017: The Evolution of Brassica Crops and Wild Relatives: Using Comparative Biology to Understand Challenges in Brassica Cultivation in Colombia. INRA, Angers, France.

● 2015: Methodological Approaches for Plant Phylogenomics: Examples in Brassicaceae, Araceae, and Annonaceae. New York Botanical Garden, The Bronx, NY, USA.

● 2015: Phylogenomics of the Plant Family Araceae. Colombian Botany Conference, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia.

● 2015: The Evolution of Wind Pollination in Angiosperms. Parque Explora, Medellín, Colombia.

● 2015: Understanding the Molecular Basis Behind the Origin and Evolution of Leaves and Flowers in Brassicas and Early Flowering Plants. Universidad EAFIT, Medellín, Colombia.

● 2014: Phylogenomics and Transcriptomics: Tools to Understand the Evolution of Morphological Characters in Plants. Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.

● 2014: Methodological Approaches for Plant Phylogenomics: Examples in Brassicaceae, Araceae, and Annonaceae. University of Hong Kong, Plant Evolution and Adaptation Workshop, Hong Kong.

● 2013: Evolutionary Studies of Brassica Crops and Wild Relatives: Phylogeny, Development, and Domestication. University of Hong Kong, Seminar Series, Hong Kong.

● 2012: A Fully Resolved and Dated Chloroplast Phylogeny of Brassica Crops and Wild Relatives (Brassiceae: Brassicaceae). American Society of Plant Biologist Meeting, Austin, TX, USA.

Grants and Awards 

● 2026: Rainforest Trust. Airplant Conservancy School, Orchids for Peace Foundation. (USD $17,000).

● 2025: San Diego Orchid Society. Expedition Lepanthes of the Dominican Republic. (USD $4,245).

● 2025: San Diego Orchid Society. Phylogenomics for Conservation of Lepanthes Sw. (Orchidaceae) in Cuba.

 (USD $3,664).

● 2025: American Orchid Society Orchid Reserach Grant. Island Biogeography of Epidendrum spicatum: An Endemic Orchid Species of the Galápagos Islands (USD $5,195).

● 2024: American Orchid Society Orchid Conservation Grant. Orchids for Peace, Colombia. (USD $6,200).

● 2021: Fortalecimiento del Turismo Comunitario de La Reserva El Manantial, Florencia, Caquetá. Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Colombia. Principal Investigator (PI). (COP $120,000,000).

● 2020: La Reserva Orquídeas, Antioquia: Protecting the Cloud Forest of the Northern Colombian Andes. The Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. PI. (USD $20,000).

● 2020: Protecting Colombia’s extraordinary orchid diversity at La Reserva Orquídeas, Antioquia: Plant Ecotourism and Horticulture as Strategies for Rural Development. Van Thien Foundation for International Nature Protection. PI. (EUR €10,000).

● 2020: Turismo comunitario y horticultura como una estrategia para el desarrollo rural de Florencia, Caquetá durante el posconflicto. Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Colombia. Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI). (COP $150,000,000).

● 2019: American Orchid Society Orchid Conservation Grant. Protecting Colombia’s extraordinary orchid diversity at La Reserva Orquídeas, Antioquia. (USD $7,500).

● 2019: 7th International Orchid Conservation Congress. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (£1,000).

● 2019: The effect of Leafamine, a floral biostimulant: Agronomic experiments in cut and pot orchids. BCF-LifeSciences, France. (€9,395).

● 2019: Monitoring the reintroduction of threatened species from the Orchidaceae using ultra-low powered TensorFlow-enabled camera traps. Arribada Initiative, Shuttleworth Foundation. (£10,000).

● 2019: Illegal Wildlife Trade Fellowship. University of Oxford. (£5,000).

● 2019-2021: Colciencias Research Grant. Co-Investigator. Biotechnological strategies for the rehabilitation of mining soils in the dry Colombian Caribbean region. (COP $300,000,000).

● 2018-2019: Internationalization Grant. INRA-CIB, Colciencias, EcosNORD. (COP $60,000,000).

● 2017: International Post-Doctoral Fellowship, RFI Objectif Vegetal Program. INRA. (€127,978).

● 2017: Newton Fund Researcher Links Travel Grant. Earlham Institute. (£7,700).

● 2016: Promotion of regional micro-economies through aromatic species essential oils during soil rhizoremediation. Fontagro – Inter-American Development Bank. Co-PI. (USD $400,000).

● 2016: Preparatory Grant, r4d Switzerland. Cacao-based agroforestry systems for enhanced pollination. Co-PI. (CHF 5,500).

● 2016: Morphoagronomic and molecular characterization of Cocos nucifera L. in the Colombian coasts. Colciencias, Colombia. Co-PI. (COP $399,000,000).

● 2014: General Research Fund (GRF). Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC). Co-Investigator. (USD $70,000).

● 2014: Small Project Funding. University of Hong Kong. (USD $7,000).

Service 

● 2025- Present: Member, LatinAmerican Botany Asociation.

● 2021 - Present: Member, American Orchid Society.

● 2022 - Present: Member, International Association of Plant Taxonomy.

● 2019 - Present: Member, Orchid Seed Science and Sustainable Use (OSSSU). OSSSU Website

● 2019 - Present Member, IUCN Orchid Specialists Group, Trade Group and Ex-Situ Conservation Group,

Species Survival Commission.

● 2019 - Present: Member, Sociedad Colombiana de Botánica.

● 2015 - Present: Member, COLEVOL Scientific Committee (Colombian Evolutionary Network).

● 2022: Member, Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation.

● 2017 - 2021: Member and Scientific Advisor, Colombian Society of Orchidology.

● 2017: Organizer, Course on Metabarcoding and Metagenomics for the Study of Colombia’s Biodiversity.

●2017 - 2018: Member, Research Committee, The Corporation for Biological Research (CIB).

● 2014: Organizer, Annonaceae Colloquium on Botany Integrating Molecules, Biogeography, and Ecology, Botanical Society of America Meeting, Boise, USA.

Supervisory roles

● As main supervisor/mentor: 18 undergraduate students (previous), 6 (current).

● As co-supervisor/mentor: 1 post-doc (previous); 2 PhD student (previous) 1 (current); 2 MSc student (previous) 2 (current).

● Supervisor: 6 research volunteers (previous), 10 research volunteers (current)

Hosting of guest researchers and students

● Lizeth Estevez Tobar. University of Bonn, Germany (Master student; Mar. 2026)

● Juliano Sarmento Cabral. University of Bonn, Germany (Professor; Mar. 2026)

● Philippe Grappin. Institute Nationale of Recherche Agronomic (INRA), France (Professor; Dec. 2018)

● Nubia Velasquez. Institute Nationale of Recherche Agronomic (INRA), France (Postdoc; Oct-Jan 2018)

● Lucia Fernandez. Universidad de La Pampa, Argentina (PhD student; Oct-Dec 2018)

Peer reviews completed

● Tropical Plant Biology, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, International Journal of Plant Sciences, BMC Evolutionary Biology, TAXON, Turkish Journal of Botany, the French National Science of Research (ANR), PLOS ONE, Edinburgh Journal of Botany, Physiologia Plantarum, BMC Genomics, Phytotaxa, Scientific Data, Plant People Planet, Genes, Systematic Botany, Diversity, Annals of Botany, PEERJ, Cladistics, American Journal of Botany, Applications in Plant Sciences, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Plant Ecology, Genome Biology and Evolution, Systematic Biology, Ecology and Evolution. 

Expert advisory roles

● External editor Universidad Nacional de Colombia 2019-2025. Minciencias- Colombia Grant referee 2019. CONACYT Mexico 2020. Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia 2018-2019. Universidad Militar de Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia 2020. Universidad de la Amazonia, Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia 2019-2021. Universidad Libre, Barranquilla, Colombia 2019. Poster Competition Evaluator, JGI Annual User Meeting 2021. Research Proposals of La Universidad Pontificia Javeriana, 2022. International Association of Plant Taxonomy 2023. Universidad del Tolima, Colombia 2024-2025. Universidad de Cundinamarca, Colombia 2024-2025. Universidad Yachay Tech, Ecuador 2026.

Postgraduate and career development courses

● 2019: Diploma in University Teaching. Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana UPB, Medellín, Colombia. 2019 ● 2020: Pruebas saber pro. ● 2020: ICT tools to implement university teaching processes. ● 2025: Sarasota County CEO program, Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Florida, USA.  ●2025: Kauffman FastTrac, CEO Platform for Success 36. ●2025: City of Sarasota & CareerSource Community Entrepreneur Opportunity (CEO)/Platform for Success (PFS) “Introduction to Entrepreneurship”, Sarasota FL, USA. ●2025: Power and Influence for Positive Impact. Harvard Business School Online. 

Research experiences and technical skills

● Field work in Colombia (1995, 2004, 2018-2026), Ecuador (2025-2026), Dominican Republic (2025), Peru (2023), Cuba (2023), Costa Rica (2004-2007), Spain (2011), Australia (2013), Hong Kong (2013-2014). 

● Greenhouse work: Mustards, endangered trees from the Andean cloud forest and Orchids. 

● Extensive experience in laboratory techniques, including microscopy, high-throughput next-generation techniques for RNAseq experiments, metagenomics and metabarcoding experiments, Genome sequencing and Genotyping by Sequencing, orchid invitro cultivation. 

● Intermediate knowledge of programming (R, Perl). Phylogenetic inference and phylogenetic comparative methods. Genome analysis workflows, RNAseq workflows, GBS workflows. Proficient in SPSS statistical package.

Media coverage and outreach

● 2025: Featured on Podcast In Defense of Plants - Episode 540: Orchids for Peace.

● 2025: Feature in the local newspaper of Riosucio, Caldas, Colombia. Six new Lepanthes species for science: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Egqzf6pNj/ and https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16qSnJb3hH/

● 2023: Featured on Podcast In Defense of Plants - Episode 540: What Drives Orchid Diversity.

● 2022 (Jan-Feb): Articles in Herald-Tribune - Link, Sarasota Magazine - Link, Southern Sarasota County Newspapers - Link, and Venice Gondolier, FL, USA.

● 2022: Featured in the podcast Entre Libros, Plantas y El Bosque with Martha Riva Palacio - Listen Here.

● 2022: Feature in The Sanctuary, Magazine from Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, May 2022, Page 18 - Read Here.

● 2022: Featured in El Espectador regarding Orquideas para la Paz - Read Here.

● 2022: Talking Mustards with Dr. Tatiana Arias - Listen Here.

● 2022: Featured in Colombia Visible - Un País Sin Límites - Read Here.

● 2022: Participated in Lunch in the Gardens, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

● 2022: Featured on Caracol Radio Colombia, highlighting the Orquideas para la Paz project on Colombia Visible, CápsulaCV, Al Campo - Listen Here.

● 2021: Featured in Infobae as a finalist for the Whitley Fund Awards - Read Here.

● 2021: Featured in Decoding Science, a blog from the Bond Life Sciences Center at the University of Missouri regarding kale domestication - Read Here.

● 2021: Featured in Crear Tiene Ingenio | Cosas que No Sabías de las Orquídeas | Teleantioquia, Medellín, Colombia - Watch Here.

● 2021: Featured in the Wildlife Crimes Podcast from the Museum of Natural History, London - Listen Here.

● 2021: Presentation on community tourism and horticulture as a strategy for rural development in Florencia, Caquetá during the post-conflict period - Watch Here | Second Video.

● 2020: Interview with Conservation Careers - Read Here.

● 2020: Featured in Forbes - Read Here.

● 2019: Conferencia Andina de Orquídeas - Watch Here.

● 2019: Article in Traiding Ideas: Issue 7 regarding horticultural societies in Colombian orchid trade and conservation, Oxford Martin Program on Illegal Wildlife Trade.

● 2019: Featured in People Not Poaching - Read Here.

● 2019: Article on open-source monitoring systems for pollinators and orchids - Read Here.

● 2019: Produced a video for children about orchids and the cloud forest - Watch Here.

● 2018: Biodiversity Fellow at the Interdisciplinary Center for Conservation Science (ICCS-Oxford University) - Profile Here.

● 2018: Visiting Fellow of the Oxford Martin Program on the Illegal Wildlife Trade - Learn More.

● 2018: Organizer of Bioblitz, Estación Biológica de Orquídeas, Jardín, Antioquia - Details Here.

Languages

● Spanish (proficient), English (proficient).

References

Dr. Patrick Edger

Michigan State University

Associate Professor
Department of Horticulture

Phone: 765-749-1496

Email:edgerpat@msu.edu

Dr. Jaime Gongora

The University of Sydney

Associate Professor in Conservation Biology and Animal Genetics

Associate Dean Indigenous Strategy, Faculty of Science

Phone: +61 2 9036 9348

Email: jaime.gongora@sydney.edu.au

Dr. Sally Chambers
Assistant Professor/

Herbarium Curator 

Eastern Kentucky University 

Department: Biological Sciences

Phone: 859-622-8689
Email: sally.chambers@eku.edu