Purpose – Thriving at work is one of the most important challenges facing organizations in their ways to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. As a result, examining its determinants is crucial. Using the Self-Determination Theory as a framework, the current study sought to develop a model of how core self-evaluations affected the relationship between workplace curiosity and thriving at work among academicians in Zagazig University faculties. Design/methodology/approach – The research design is descriptive, with quantitative primary data gathered via online questionnaires and self-administered hard copies. Data were gathered from a stratified sample of 320 academicians from 16 faculties in Zagazig University. Simple linear regression method and multiple hierarchical regression were employed to analyze data and test study hypotheses Findings – The study's results showed that there is a significant positive correlation between workplace curiosity and thriving at work among academicians at Zagazig University faculties Additionally, core self-evaluations significantly moderated the previous relationship. Originality/value – Results suggest that workplace curiosity enhances thriving at work. A scientific rationale detailing the psychological mechanisms included elements like core self-evaluations. This research adds to the body of knowledge about job- related results, such as thriving at work, by introducing recent empirical and theoretical perspectives.