Distinguished for his expertise in biological oceanography, Jorge Reni Garcia-Sais began his professional journey enrolling at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), where he earned a Bachelor of Science from the College of Natural Sciences in 1977 and a Master of Science from the Marine Sciences Department in 1980. Later, in 1991, he obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in biological oceanography from the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. Among his early roles, Dr. Garcia-Sais served the Center for Energy and Environment Research (CEER) of the UPR, working within the Marine Ecology and Environment Section. He has since excelled at the institution as a professor, marine scientist and researcher over the course of 24 years.

In addition, Dr. Garcia-Sais is the founder of the firm Reef Research, Inc. In this capacity since 2001, he has served as principal investigator for the Puerto Rico Coral Reef Monitoring Program (PRCRMP) for 23-years until 2022, under contracts by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER). For his performance in this program, he was named Coral Reef Researcher of the Year in Puerto Rico in 2006. Dr. Garcia-Sais also serves as a consultant for private consulting companies. He is backed by additional experience working with UNESCO and the World Wildlife Fund, in which he pioneered coral reef studies in Haiti.

To remain abreast of his field, Dr. Garcia-Sais has been an active member of the Science and Statistics Committee of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council since 2010, contributing to fishery management policies and regulations for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, he has peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals and has served as a reviewer for several local and international peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Garcia-Sais attributes his success to the quality of his work and his dedication, which he notes he inherited from his father. Looking ahead, he plans to pass on his knowledge to his students and the general scientific community, as well as create a series of characterizations of the coral reefs around Puerto Rico.