Heidi Ploeg

Dr. Heidi Ploeg is a Full Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Queen's University, holding the inaugural Chair for Women in Engineering. She leads the Queen's Bone and Joint Biomechanics (Q-BJB) Lab, focused on musculoskeletal system mechanics and orthopaedic implant development. Her research integrates experimental and computational methods across scales from whole-body biomechanics to bone microstructure analysis.

• Education: BSc, MSc, PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Queen's University)
• Affiliations: ORS Orthopaedic Implants Section Chair, Editorial Board Member (Medical Engineering & Physics), and multiple professional societies

Research interests include bone biomechanics, implant fixation, and medical device evaluation. Key projects involve trabecular bone modeling, dental implant stability, and antibiotic-loaded bone cement properties. She has advised over 50 students and secured grants like NSERC Discovery and CFI John R Evans Funds.

Publications span biomechanical testing, finite element analysis, and orthopaedic device evaluation. Awards include the Women’s Leadership Forum Award and AAOS Women’s Health Advisory Board recognition. Her lab emphasizes diversity and inclusion, fostering collaborative training environments through industry partnerships and outreach.