Doug Heemstra has been selected as the new Associate Director of Operations for the Michigan State University Bioeconomy Institute.

Heemstra has extensive experience in process automation and system optimization in a chemical manufacturing setting. Having worked for companies including Pfizer, Corium, Amgen, and most recently Mead Johnson Nutrition, he has led large teams and multi-million dollar projects.

“What really excites me about this position is the diversity of the client base and the wide variety of projects I will be able to contribute to,” stated Heemstra. In his new role, Heemstra will work with clients on their research needs, scale-up, and other chemical processing requests, then bring those projects to fruition in state-of-the-art facilities located in Holland and Lansing, Michigan.

“When I worked at Pfizer, the Holland location was one of the sites I supported so for me it also feels like coming home.”

A West Michigan native, Doug and his family reside in the Grandville, Michigan area where Doug is very active in the community and coaches high school football.

A graduate of Aquinas College, he earned bachelor’s degrees in both chemistry and mathematics, then went on to complete a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University.

“We are very pleased that Doug has joined our team at the Bioeconomy Institute,” said Dr. Paul Hunt, MSU Senior Associate Vice President for Research & Innovation. “He brings a wealth of experience to the role, as well as a strong orientation toward safety and product quality control.  I believe our customers will benefit from his knowledge of the Holland facility.”

About the MSU Bioeconomy Institute:

The MSU Bioeconomy Institute (MSU BI) provides specialty chemical and fermentation development, scale-up,  and manufacturing as well as sponsored research and testing, for both for-profit and not-for-profit entities of all sizes. Two facilities, located in Holland and Lansing, Michigan, complement and extend Michigan State University campus research.

The institute in Holland offers business incubation opportunities and extensive laboratory space rental, as well as educational programming, training and services. The site is also home to embedded researchers from private and public sector collaborator organizations. These activities support Michigan State University’s general mission of research, teaching, and service-outreach, and specifically advance MSU’s efforts to promote the economic development of Michigan and the nation.