Please note: Claude will be off exhibit on Oct. 9 as he gets his standard health checkup with our skilled veterinary team.
Search for Academy curators, collections managers, and research staff working to answer some of the world's most pressing scientific questions.
Research Associate, Botany
Systematics, Biogeography, Taxonomy, Malagasy flora
My research interests focus on the taxonomy, systematics and biogeography of the Malagasy flora. I am conducting ongoing research on the St. John’s wort family, Hypericaceae, and the princess flower family, Melastomataceae, and am also investigating the relationships between Malagasy species and closely related groups from mainland Africa and the New World.
Curatorial Assistant I, Ornithology and Mammalogy
I started my journey with marine mammals when studying Animal Behavior at Hunter College, where I had the opportunity to do field work with Atlantic Spotted Dolphins. After a relocation to California I became active in marine mammal rescue and rehab and through my involvement with Beach Watch, a volunteer beach survey program, was introduced to the work of CAS and the Marine Mammal Stranding Network. In 2021 I was hired to work on sea otter specimen preparation, and have since had the opportunity to work in field response and whale necropsies.
Lab and Collection Manager, Microbiology
Claudia Rocha is a Lab and Collection Manager for the Microbiology Department. She also manages the Ichthyology Tissue Collection where researchers around the world can request genetic samples as loans to answer questions on evolution, ecology, biodiversity and even climate change. One of her research focuses is on coral reef fishes, primarily on discovering viruses in coral reef fishes at different ecosystems. Her last publications are descriptions of new species of fish.
Curator and Follett Chair of Ichthyology
Reef Fish Evolution and Ecology, Mesophotic Coral Reef Exploration
My research interests and experience are centered on the ecology, evolution, phylogeography (or the geographic distribution of genetic lineages), conservation, biogeography and systematics of coral reef fishes. I frequently try to combine these fields, invoking ecology to help explain evolutionary patterns and using molecular tools to test biogeographic and systematic hypotheses. The overall objective of this interdisciplinary research is to test existing hypotheses (and propose new ones) about what generates and maintains the extremely high biodiversity in tropical coral reefs.
Curator, Invertebrate Zoology & Geology
Mass Extinctions, Paleocommunity Evolution, Evolutionary Ecology
I am the Curator of Geology, and I've been at the Academy since 1999. I hold degrees in Biology (B.Sc.), Oceanography (M.S.) and Geology (Ph.D.). My research is transdisciplinary, with a focus on understanding the evolution of ecological systems, emphasizing paleontology, deep time, and perspectives on complexity dynamics. Most of my research these days centers around global change biology, and how we can further develop our understanding of Earth's past ecosystems to better forecast our future.
Director of Scientific Computing
At the Academy, I oversee all computing activities within the research group. While this role primarily supports collections data and genomics research, it also encompasses many other aspects of the scientific work we do.
Research Associate, Fellow, Botany
Bryophytes
My ongoing research interests are on moss floristics and basic bryophyte inventory activities. My field work shifted around 1997 from flowering plants to bryophytes with an emphasis in bryogeography through specimen acquisition to expand the diversity of the collections within the CAS herbarium. Thirteen plant species have been named in my honor including seven flowering plants and six mosses including the moss genus Shevockia endemic to Asia.
