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Sinlan Poo (Sheila), Ph.D. 

Curator of Research
Department of Conservation and Research
Memphis Zoo, United States

Adjunct Assistant Professor 
Department of Biological Sciences
Arkansas State University, United States

Research Associate
Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Thailand

蒲歆嵐 博士
孟菲斯動物園  保育研究所  研究主任
阿肯薩州立大學  生物系  兼任教授

 

Dr. Sinlan Poo (Ph. D., National University of Singapore; B.A. Boston University summa cum laude with distinction) is the Curator of Research at the Memphis Zoo and holds an Adjunct position at Arkansas State University. Originally from Taiwan, she is a behavioral ecologist and conservation biologist who has worked on a wide range of projects from basic life history trade-offs, to applied ex/in situ conservation, to forming cross-institutional networks to promote research in biological collections, to increasing visibility of women in herpetology. Her research is primarily focused on amphibians, but has also included reptiles, small mammals, carnivores, invertebrates, and rare plants. She has worked across several countries, including the US, Ecuador, Panama, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Taiwan.

Dr. Poo's research at the Memphis Zoo is boardly focused on increasing the impact of live collections at zoos and the capacity zoos have to contribute to in situ conservation of endangered species. Some examples include: (1) comparative fitness and adaptations in captive-bred vs natural-bred individuals, (2) reintroduction of endangered amphibians and reptiles, (3) conservation of genetic and biodiversity through assisted reproductive technology and sperm cryopreservation. 

Currently, Dr. Poo is co-organizing the Zoo-Mu Initiative, which is focused on "Linking and Leveraging Biological Collections: Zoos and Natural History Museums," and is co-leading the Global Women in Herpetology Project

Dr. Poo is on the Advisory Committee of the Biodiversity Collections Network (BCoN), the Research Committee of Species 360, and the Executive Council and Broad of Trustees of The Herpetologists' League.

Curriculum Vitae

​PDF

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, 2011-2014


Univeristy of Bordeaux, The Cluster of Excellence 
Summer course, Ecology and Society: Biodiversity and Global Change, 2015

Professional Positions

Curator of Research

Conservation and Reseach Department, Memphis Zoo, USA, 2022 - Present

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Arkansas State University, 2019 - Present

Reseach Associate

Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, THAILAND, 2015 - Present

Senior Research Scientist

Conservation and Reseach Department, Memphis Zoo, USA, 2021 - 2022

Director of Conservation

Detriot Zoo, USA, 2021 (Declined)

Research Scientist

Conservation and Reseach Department, Memphis Zoo, USA, 2019 - 2021

Post-doctoral Research Fellow

Conservation and Reseach Department, Memphis Zoo, USA, 2016 - 2019

Lecturer

National University of Singapore, SINGAPORE & SRI LANKA, 2016

Residence Guest Research Instrutor

Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, THAILAND, 2011 - 2014

Teaching Fellow

National University of Singapore, SINGAPORE, 2010 - 2015

Field Biologist
Santa Ana Watershed Association

Riverside Biological Monitoring Program, California, 2008-2009

Fish and Wildlife Scientific Aid
California Department of Fish and Game, California, 2007-2008

Committee Services

Broad of Governors

American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, 2023 - Present

Executive Council, Broad of Trustees

The Herpetologists' League, 2022 - Present

Collections Committee

Memphis Museum of Science and History, 2022 - Present

Diversity Committee

Herpetological Conservation Biology, 2021 - Present

Advisory Committee

Biodiversity Collections Network (BCoN), 2021 - Present

Research Committee 

Species 360, 2021 - Present

Diversity & Inclusion Committee

Memphis Zoo, USA, 2021 - Present

S:cientific Committee 

Society for Conservation Biology, Asian Chapter, 2015-2016

Research Funding, Scholarship, and Awards

Donor Scholarship for Gradaute Research at Memphis Zoo

Memphis Zoo, 2023-2024  ($20,000 USD)

Amphibian Conservation Grant

Josh's Frogs, 2023  ($500 USD)

Symposium Grant

SSAR, Herp League, and ASIH, 2023 ($5,000 USD total)

Conservation Grants Fund

Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2021 ($21,644 USD)

Conservation Action Network Grant

Memphis Zoo, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 ($88,842 USD total)

Biological Collections Workshop Grant

iDigBio, 2020, 2021 ($69,000 USD total)

Amphibian Taxon Advisory Group

Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2017 ($1,000 USD)

Student Scholarship

University of Bordeaux, The Cluster of Excellence, 2015 ($1,200 USD)

 

Travel Award

National University of Singapore, 2014 ($1,000 SGD)

Extended Graduate Research Scholarship

National University of Singapore, 2014 ($7,400 SGD)

Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)
National University of Singapore, 2010-2014 ($105,000 SGD total)

Senior Book Award in Biology
Boston University, 2007 ($3,500 USD)


Phi Betta Kappa (Early Induction)
Boston Univeristy, Epsilon of Masettchusetts, 2006
Funded Research Opportunities Grant
Boston University, 2007 ($500 USD)


National Science Foundation, Research Experince for Undergraduates (NSF-REU)

Boston University, 2006

Ester Chandler Scholarship
Boston University College of Arts and Sciences, 2004-2007 ($43,450 USD total)

Co-Founder & Organizer
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