There are five curators, all of whom conduct research that includes field work around the world and work based on the Academy's vast collections. Gary Williams, Department Chair, works on soft corals, and Rich Mooi devotes his time to sand dollars and other echinoderms. Terry Gosliner, Acting Director of Research, works on opisthobranch mollusks, mostly nudibranchs. Patrick Kociolek, CAS Executive Coral Reef, Solomon Inlands Director, holds the Hanna Chair of Diatom Research. Peter Rodda recently retired after 27 years of service to the Academy, and a search is currently underway for his replacement as Curator of Paleontology.
Field work plays an important part in the research and collection activities of the department.
Every year, staff conduct research and collect material from diverse localities from Madagascar to Nevada, and from the Gal pagos to Belize. Staff also participates in the Academy's travel and teaching programs, leading trips and teaching classes in evolution, ecology, invertebrate biology, geology, and mineralogy. Aranged diatom slide Collections from this department are on display in the halls of Life Through Time and Minerals at the Academy. The department's space is shared with the staff of Scientific Publications and with Michael Ghiselin, Senior Research Fellow and head of the Center for the History and Philosophy of Science. There are four collections within the department.