Biography
Dr. Heiberger’s 20 years of leadership in higher education includes innovation in curriculum, research and outreach programming. His professional career spans five years in student affairs and 10 years as pre-med advisor/instructor. Since 2017 he has served as associate professor and coordinator of the accelerated master’s in human biology, and in 2020 he was appointed associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences.
His recent research projects include a social listening study exploring the change in STEM career sentiment throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and was the principal investigator for a National Science Foundation-funded project titled "The Wokini Undergraduate Biology Education Network." In 2022, SDSU was named one of the first 10 Metaversity campuses in the U.S. Heiberger currently leads SDSU’s Metaversity initiative. Additionally, he has cultivated internal and external investment in immersive learning initiatives supporting over 150 virtual reality headsets deployed in physical labs, and a mobile VR lab project aimed at engaging regional rural communities in STEM activities and careers through VR. His team is developing 3D spatial recordings for human cadaveric anatomy education, conducted one of the first randomized controlled trials in VR anatomy education, and his Ph.D. student and her team have created a VR app to be deployed in introductory biology curriculum to assist students in their understanding of structure and function in cellular biology.
Additionally, he teaches core courses and mentors students in the accelerated (nine-month) Master of Science in human biology program, regularly leads study abroad programs, and oversees the Student Success Team, academic programs and curriculum within the College of Natural Sciences.
His recent research projects include a social listening study exploring the change in STEM career sentiment throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and was the principal investigator for a National Science Foundation-funded project titled "The Wokini Undergraduate Biology Education Network." In 2022, SDSU was named one of the first 10 Metaversity campuses in the U.S. Heiberger currently leads SDSU’s Metaversity initiative. Additionally, he has cultivated internal and external investment in immersive learning initiatives supporting over 150 virtual reality headsets deployed in physical labs, and a mobile VR lab project aimed at engaging regional rural communities in STEM activities and careers through VR. His team is developing 3D spatial recordings for human cadaveric anatomy education, conducted one of the first randomized controlled trials in VR anatomy education, and his Ph.D. student and her team have created a VR app to be deployed in introductory biology curriculum to assist students in their understanding of structure and function in cellular biology.
Additionally, he teaches core courses and mentors students in the accelerated (nine-month) Master of Science in human biology program, regularly leads study abroad programs, and oversees the Student Success Team, academic programs and curriculum within the College of Natural Sciences.
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