Norman Pace is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado. Pace is an internationally recognized expert in nucleic acids and associated enzymes. His studies of ribosomal RNA structures have set new standards for the definition of phylogenetic relationships among organisms. His research interests include RNA enzymes, RNA processing, macromolecular structure, molecular evolution, and microbial ecology. He served as a member of NRC's Committee on Planetary Biology and Chemical Evolution, the Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration, and the Mars Rover/Sample Return Advisory Committee. Currently, Pace is a member of the Board on Scientific Counselors for the National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine.