Professional researcher in natural history with over 20 years of experience. I am passionate about studying the diversity and natural history of species, the factors underlying their patterns of distribution, their shared biogeographic history, and the effects of human activities on species and their habitats, in order to support its long-term conservation.

My research has a special emphasis on terrestrial animals, in particular amphibians, reptiles, birds, spiders and insects (herpetology, ornithology, arachnology, entomology). Currently, I am full-time professor at Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, where I am director of the Laboratory of Terrestrial Zoology and Coordinator of Biology.

Since 1990, I have been involved with non-governmental organizations that work on biodiversity & environmental research, conservation and management. Since 1996, I have experimented with new communication technologies, including websites and social networking, both as science communication media, citizen-science tools, and as advertising media for scientific and social projects.