Juliana Soto Patiño

Juliana "Juli" Soto Patiño is the Collections Manager in the Ornithology Department. Born and raised in Colombia—the most biodiverse country for birds—Juli was inspired to pursue a career dedicated to natural history museums and ornithology. Her work has spanned extensive field expeditions across Colombia, preparation and cataloging of hundreds of specimens, and curatorial roles at institutions including the Instituto Humboldt, Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the Illinois Natural History Survey.

Beyond collections work, Juli is deeply engaged in efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in science and she is an active science communicator—leading community workshops, collaborating on citizen-science initiatives (e.g., eBird/iNaturalist), and sharing science through talks, media, and public programs. Her research and publications reflect this dual dedication to biodiversity and DEIB, ranging from studies of avian parasites to historical and contemporary perspectives on inclusion in ornithology. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

At NHMLAC, Juli will oversee the care and accessibility of the bird collection and collaborate on upcoming storage renovations and taxonomic updates.