Dr. Lee Soon Leong joined Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) in 1995 and he is currently Director of Forest Biotechnology Division, FRIM. He leads a multi-disciplinary research team addressing research topics related to conservation, management and sustainable utilisation of forest resources. The work on ecological genetic studies of important tropical tree species according to the life history traits predicted optimum population sizes and generated various conservation and management guidelines to strike a balance between conservation and utilisation of forest genetic resources. The pioneering work in developing DNA profiling and barcoding databases of various tropical plant species for timber tracking and species identification has led to forensic applications to verify the legality of a suspected timber in the context of illegal logging, while supporting the wood, herbal, food and insurance industries through plant species authentication. The first reported complete genome sequence of Rubroshorea leprosula serves as a reference genome for genomic and molecular breeding studies of other dipterocarps, the most important timber family in the tropics. Dr. Lee has authored or co-authored around 180 scientific publications.

List of Publications:

• Tani N, Tsumura Y., Fukasawa, K., Kado, T., Taguchi, Y., Lee, S.L., Lee, C.T., Muhammad, N., Niiyama, K., Otani, T., Yagihashi, T., Tanouchi, H., Ripin, A. & Kassim, A.R. 2015. Mixed Mating System Are Regulated by Fecundity in Shorea curtisii (Dipterocarpaceae) as Revealed by Comparison under Different Pollen Limited Conditions.
• Tnah, L.H., Lee, C.T., Lee, S.L., Ng, C.H. & Ng, K.K.S. 2014. Development of microsatellites in Labisia pumila (Myrsinaceae), an economically important Malaysian herb. Applications in Plant Sciences 2 (6): 1400019.
• Lee, C.T., Lee, S.L., Tnah, L.H., Ng, K.K.S., Ng, C.H., Cheng, S. & Tani, N. 2014. Isolation and characterization of 16 microsatellite markers in Intsia palembanica, a high-value tropical hardwood species. Conservation Genetic Resources 6: 389-391.
• Tnah, L.H., Lee, C.T., Lee, S.L., Ng, C.H. & Ng, K.K.S. 2014. Development and characterization of microsatellites of an important medicinal plant Orthosiphon stamineus (misai kucing). Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 55: 317-321.
• Jalonen, R., Hong, L.T., Lee, S.L., Loo, J. & Snook, L. 2014. Integrating genetic factors into management of tropical Asian production forests: A review of current knowledge. Forest Ecology and Management 315: 191-201.
• Chan, Y.M., Lee, C.T., Tnah, L.H. & Lee, S.L. 2014. Novel microsatellite markers for Begonia maxwelliana and transferability to 23 Begonia species of Peninsular Malaysia. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 57: 159-163.