Sara Heggland, PhD

Professor of Biology

Contact:: sheggland@collegeofidaho.edu

208-459-5063
Expertise:: Cell Biology, Toxicology, Skeletal Biology, Endocrinology

Education

Ph.D. Reproductive Physiology and Endocrinology, Kent State University, OH

B.S. Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Minnesota

Professional Experience

St. Norbert College, DePere, WI, Assistant Professor of Biology, 1995-2001 (tenured in 1999)

The College of Idaho, Director of Student Research and Creative Activities, 2009-present

Board member of the Research Council Mountain States Tumor and Medical Research Institute, Boise, ID 2010-present

Personal Statement

Professor Heggland has been at The College of Idaho since 2001. She teaches Frontiers in Biology, Cell Biology, Endocrinology, and Developmental Biology. Her scholarly interests include studying the impact of environmental toxins on bone health. A current focus of the Heggland lab is on the heavy metal cadmium which has garnered public attention due to its use in electronic products and jewelry. Students in her lab seek to understand the link between cadmium exposure and the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. She has several collaborative projects in which students can study the cell and molecular mechanisms involved in cadmium toxicity in bone. Students in the Heggland lab are exposed to a variety of molecular and cell biology techniques, including cell culture, fluorescence microscopy, Western blot analysis, apoptotic signaling assays, real time qPCR, and live cell imaging.

Dr. Heggland’s research is funded by the National Institute of Health, including the Idaho INIH-NBRE program. Students in the Heggland lab are co-authors on articles published in toxicology journals and they routinely present their research at regional and national conferences.

Heggland views the research lab as an extension of her classroom. What she appreciates most about her job is interacting with students and seeing them get exciting about biology. The research lab allows students to move beyond the textbook and get engaged in original publishable research in a collaborative setting with other student researchers.

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Sara Heggland, PhD

Education

Professional Experience