Dr. N. LeRoy Poff is a distinguished scholar and influential leader in the field of freshwater ecology and environmental flows. He currently serves as Professor of Biology at Colorado State University, a position he has held since 2007, and maintains a partial appointment as Distinguished Professorial Chair of Riverine Ecology & Environmental Flows at the Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra. Dr. Poff earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Hendrix College, followed by a master's in environmental science from Indiana University, and completed his doctoral studies with a PhD in Biology from Colorado State University. After conducting postdoctoral research at the University of Maryland, College Park, he established himself as a prominent figure in aquatic ecology through rigorous scientific inquiry and innovative approaches to understanding river systems.
Dr. Poff's pioneering research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of how habitat stability and environmental variability shape aquatic communities across multiple spatial scales. His integrative work examining the relationship between habitat structure and the organization of biological communities, particularly focusing on invertebrates and fish in stream ecosystems, has provided critical insights for conservation and management practices. He has led significant collaborative research initiatives, including a $2.9 million National Science Foundation Dimensions of Biodiversity grant examining vulnerability of stream biodiversity to climate change, and earlier foundational work on habitat heterogeneity in stream restoration ecology. Dr. Poff's contributions to environmental flow science have been particularly influential, advancing methodologies for determining water requirements that maintain ecological integrity in river systems while balancing human needs.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Poff has played a pivotal role in shaping the broader scientific community through leadership positions and service to the field. He served as Director of Colorado State University's Graduate Degree Program in Ecology from 2008 to 2016 and chaired the scientific program for a major four-society meeting of freshwater sciences in Portland, Oregon in 2014. As an Advisory Board member for the International Journal of River Basin Management since 2006, he has helped guide scholarly discourse in his field while contributing to the development of prototype indicator systems for freshwater ecosystems. Dr. Poff continues to advance the science of riverine ecology through ongoing research, mentorship of emerging scientists, and international collaborations that address critical challenges in freshwater conservation and management.
