Sinlan Poo (Sheila), Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Department of Conservation and Research
Memphis Zoo, United States
Adjunct Faculty
Department of Biological Sciences
Arkansas State University, United States
Research Associate
Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Thailand
email:
Dr. Sinlan Poo (Ph. D., National University of Singapore; B.A. Boston University summa cum laude) is a Research Scientist at the Memphis Zoo with an Adjunct position at Arkansas State University. Originally from Taiwan, she is a behavioral ecologist who is broadly interested in parental care, reproductive ecology, and phenotypic plasticity. Her research is primarily focused on amphibians, but she has worked on a wide range of research and conservation projects targeting small mammals, carnivores, invertebrates, and rare plants across several countries (the US, Ecuador, Panama, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Taiwan). Currently, her research at the Memphis Zoo is focused on increasing the impact of live collections at zoos and the capacity zoos have to contribute to in situ conservation of endangered species. These include: (1) comparative fitness and ecologically adaptive behavior in captive-bred versus natural-bred individuals, (2) reintroduction of endangered amphibians and reptiles, (3) effectiveness of assisted reproductive technology in amphibians, and (4) conservation of genetic and biodiversity through amphibian sperm cryopreservation.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
National University of Singapore
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, 2010-2014
Boston University
B.A., Biology with Specialization in Ecology and Conservation Biology, 2003-2007
Summa cum laude, with distinction. Phi Betta Kappa, early initiation.
Professional Certificate & Additional Training
Smithsonian Masion School of Conservation
Professional Certificate, Conservation Practice Program, 2011-Present
Univeristy of Bordeaux, The Cluster of Excellence
Summer course, Ecology and Society: Biodiversity and Global Change, 2015
Research Experiences
Research Committee
Species 360, 2021-Present
Research Scientist
Conservation and Reseach Department, Memphis Zoo, 2019-Present
Adjunct Research Faculty
Arkansas State University, 2019-Present
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Conservation and Reseach Department, Memphis Zoo, 2016-2019
Reseach Associate
Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, 2015-Present
Graduate Research in Behavioral Ecology
National University of Singapore, SINGAPORE, 2010-2014
Independent Work for Distinction
Boston University Biology Department, Embryo Behavior Lab, Prof. Karen Warkentin, 2006-2007
Undergraduate Research Assistant (volunteer)
Boston University Biology Department, Embryo Behavior Lab, Prof. Karen Warkentin, 2005-2007
Boston University Biology Department, Terrestrial Biogeochemistry Lab, Prof. Adrien Finzi, 2005-2007
Research Internship
Academia Sinica Institute of Zoology, Marine Virology Lab, Prof. Ya-Li Hsu, TAIWAN, 2004
Research Assistant; Experimenter (volunteer)
Boston University Psychology Department, Psycholinguistics Lab, Prof. Catherine Harris, 2003-2004
Work Experiences
Lecturer
National University of Singapore, SINGAPORE & SRI LANKA, 2016
Teaching Assistant
National University of Singapore, SINGAPORE, 2010 - 2015
Residence Research Instrutor
Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, THAILAND, 2011 - 2014
Field Biologist
Santa Ana Watershed Association
Riverside Biological Monitoring Program, California, 2008-2009
Fish and Wildlife Scientific Aide
California Department of Fish and Game, California, 2007-2008
Undergrad Research Intern (NSF-REU)
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PANAMA, 2006
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
Boston University, Biology Department, 2004
Grants, Scholarships, and Awards
Conservation Action Network Grant
Memphis Zoo, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Biological Collections Workshop Grant
iDigBio, 2020
Amphibian Taxon Advisory Group
Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2017
Student Scholarship
University of Bordeaux, The Cluster of Excellence, 2015
Travel Award
National University of Singapore, 2014
Extended Graduate Research Scholarship
National University of Singapore, 2014
Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)
National University of Singapore, 2010-2014
Senior Book Award in Biology
Boston University, 2007
Phi Betta Kappa (Early Induction)
Boston Univeristy, Epsilon of Masettchusetts, 2006
Funded Research Opportunities Grant
Boston University, 2007
National Science Foundation, Research Experince for Undergraduates (NSF-REU)
Boston University, 2006
Ester Chandler Scholarship
Boston University College of Arts and Sciences, 2004-2007