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.
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
Biodiversity Data Scientist
Dr. Giovanni Rapacciuolo is a biodiversity data scientist and macroecologist. Giovanni leads the Center for Biodiversity and Community's initiatives to analyze and visualize community-contributed biodiversity observations to answer key research and management questions and derive biodiversity indicators useful for decision making.
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, 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
I am responsible for ensuring a cohesive and sustainable IBSS computing strategy, including but not limited to initiatives, purchases, subscriptions, new projects and security compliance by departments and functional areas in IBSS. I represent computing and computing-based projects and needs to other internal departments at the California Academy of Sciences (CAS), especially IT and Development, and externally. I am further responsible for software, script, and methodology development in conjunction with current research needs. I also provide vision and guidance for future projects.
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.
Associate Curator and Director of the Center for Comparative Genomics
Evolutionary processes, Genomics, Phylogenetics, Hybridization
The Simison lab investigates the processes that generate, maintain, and reduce biodiversity. In particular, we are interested in the process of speciation. We use comparative genomics techniques such as RADseq, Ultra Conserved Elements, transcriptomics, and whole genomes to study the role of admixture and introgression in speciation. We are currently focusing on the globally invasive red eared slider turtle system (Trachemys scripta elegans) native to North America.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Herpetology
Lizard systematics and evolution
Dr. Ed Stanley's research interests cover a range of topics concerning the systematics and evolution of African squamates (snakes and lizards) and amphibians. He is particularly interested in the evolutionary patterns of the Cordylidae, a family of lizards endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa.