Javier Antonio Benavides-Montaño, PhD is an Associate Professor of Parasitology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL). He teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, specifically focusing on Parasitology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases. His research has included epidemiological studies on ticks, tick-borne diseases, helminths, and protozoa affecting livestock in Colombia. More recently, his work has shifted toward zoonotic emerging and re-emerging diseases, as well as parasites impacting both human and animal health. Dr. Benavides-Montaño has held various administrative positions at UNAL, including serving on the Research and Extension Committee and the Master’s and Doctoral Committees. He also served as the Director of the Animal Science Department (Sep 2017 – Sep 2019). Under his leadership, the Parasitology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases (PARINEI) Laboratory was fortified, aligning with a One Health approach to mitigate the impact of diseases on livestock production systems and public health. In 2019, his team secured funding of $2,000,000,000 to acquire a new confocal microscope and enhance the capabilities of the Microscopy and Imaging Center at UNAL Palmira. After completing his PhD at Washington State University, Dr. Benavides-Montaño has received numerous research grants, including: Projects of the Research Group on Parasitology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases Code: 57604 | QUIPU Code: 202010040144