Dr. Elizabeth Heeg '01

Professor of Biology

Education:
Ph.D., Northwestern University
B.A., Northwestern College

Dr. Heeg completed her Ph.D. in the department of BMBCB (biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology) at Northwestern University. She has published several articles in journals such as Current Biology and Developmental Biology.

As a graduate student, Elizabeth received training grants from the National Institutes of Health for her research. She was also a teaching assistant at Northwestern University, earning the 2003 Teaching Assistant of the Year Award. Her dedication to education continues and she was recognized as Northwestern College's Teaching Excellence Award winner in 2010.

As a member of the National Association of Advisors for the Pre-Health professions (NAAHP) and having advised pre-med majors for over 15 years, Dr. Heeg has paired with AptarePrep to create an affordable MCAT preparation software. This software is unique to other prep materials that are commercially available in that it gives students feedback on their progress and readiness to take the actual MCAT. AptarePrep is designed to build student confidence through a practice-based learning software system. Northwestern College pre-medical students are able to access this software for free when working with Dr. Heeg. To learn more about AptarePrep, use the following link www.aptareprep.com

Other research that Dr. Heeg is working on or has participated in includes 1) utilizing PCR to identify phage cluster members early on in the SEAPHAGES process, 2) collaboration with the University of Iowa to investigate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in northwest Iowa. The study was being funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; 3) examining the presence of MRSA in athlete and non-athlete populations on campus; 4) examining water metabolism in two rat lines that have been selectively bred for low renin and high renin activity; and 5) utilizing PCR as a Possible Means for Sex Determination of Eastern Redcedar (*Juniperus virginiana*).

+MembershipsAAMC Advisor – Association of American Medical Colleges NAAHP -- National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions CAAHP -- Central Association of Advisors for the Health Professions AAS – American Association for the Advancement of Science NABT -- National Association of Biology Teachers Faculty Advisor for Future Physicians Club.

+HonorsTeaching Excellence Award, Northwestern College, 2010 Teaching Assistant of the Year, Northwestern University, 2003