Alexander Sanchez Ruiz

Cuban biologist with a Ph.D awarded by the University of Alicante (Spain) and a M.Sc. by Institute of Ecology and Systematics (Cuba). Four years as Postdoctoral Researcher at the Instituto Butantan (Brazil). Proved experience in Systematics, Ecology and Biogeography of arachnids. Leadership of workgroups and biodiversity inventories. Management of a large amount of diverse data (e.g., specimens, tissue samples, images). Twelve years (2000–2012) as arachnid's curator; responsible for cataloging, sorting, identifying and conserving the arachnid collection of BIOECO, Cuba. Experience in analysis, management and data processing of zoological collections and preparation and assembly of specimens for imaging (SEM and Multifocal). More than 20,000 specimens acquired and catalogued by personal collections and donations from colleagues. Able to identify a wide variety of arachnids at families, genera and species levels. Knowledge of anatomy, morphology, ethology, taxonomy and phylogeny of several arthropods groups. As a collections-based scientist, use morphological systematics as a major part of his research program. To date, he has discovered and described to Science 6 new genera and 64 new spider species. Dozens of scientific presentations in Congress, Symposiums and Workshops. A few postgraduate courses taught and main coordinator of two International University Extensions Courses. Supervision of undergraduate and graduate students assisting with researches and member of Assessment Committee for PhD, Masters and BSc dissertations. Wide experience in fieldworks and structured sampling proved in hundreds of expeditions to study and collect arthropods in the Caribbean Islands, Colombia and Brazil. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)