{"id":77952,"date":"2026-05-04T14:24:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T21:24:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=77952"},"modified":"2026-05-04T14:24:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T21:24:28","slug":"ellen-liebig","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/ellen-liebig\/","title":{"rendered":"Ellen Liebig: Understanding the \u2018big picture\u2019 of human health"},"content":{"rendered":"

These days,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0cool\u00a0to know a lot\u00a0about a little. Researchers\u00a0carve out\u00a0hyper-specific niches in their respective fields. Social media influencers pick a lane\u2014long-distance bikepacking, trends in needlepoint\u2014and stay there. Medical students\u2019 interest in general internal medicine has halved in the last 10 years, with more of them gravitating toward specialties like\u00a0anesthesiology\u00a0or orthopedic surgery.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But\u00a0<\/span>Ellen Liebig<\/span><\/b>?\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0all about the big picture.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This graduating senior at NAU aspires to help people with complex, misunderstood medical problems, and that requires a holistic understanding of the human body and the world we live in. So rather than choosing one major at NAU, she chose two: environmental sciences and chemistry. Not content with fulfilling\u00a0all of\u00a0NAU\u2019s chemistry requirements, she also decided to pursue an\u00a0<\/span>American Chemical Society-certified\u00a0degree in biochemistry<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0which demands\u00a0an\u00a0additional\u00a0set\u00a0of advanced courses\u00a0that give graduates a better understanding of complex\u00a0topics.\u00a0And in addition to completing\u00a0an\u00a0Honors\u00a0College capstone project, she completed nine more\u00a0capstone courses\u00a0as part of her two majors.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, you read that right. Liebig completed 10 capstones.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe big picture is, I want to be a doctor or a researcher working for people who have spent years desperately searching for an explanation for what\u2019s going on with them,\u201d Liebig said. \u201cI want to be the person who has the answer. I want to do research that, years down the line, can help us\u00a0come up with\u00a0some treatment or diagnostic\u00a0option\u00a0that can help them. Knowing\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0the\u00a0ultimate goal\u00a0is a\u00a0big\u00a0motivation for me.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ellen<\/a>
In addition to completing an Honors College capstone project, Liebig completed nine more capstone courses as part of her two majors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But why?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Liebig\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0always see a medical career in her future. Born in Germany and raised in Tempe, she loved hiking,\u00a0reading\u00a0and doing jigsaw puzzles. As a kid, she was curious (\u201cI annoyed my teachers by asking a billion \u2018but why?\u2019 questions\u201d) and dreamed of becoming a turtle farmer\u2026before realizing that\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0a real career.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was little, I took German lessons at a house with a big backyard and a giant tortoise, and I got to feed\u00a0it\u202f bananas,\u201d Liebig said. \u201cI imagined owning a house with a pond in the back with tons of turtles swimming around.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Liebig soon discovered an aptitude for science and problem-solving. When one of her middle school science teachers asked the class to design a mission to Mars\u2019 moon Phobos, Liebig went above and beyond, creating a spinning base to artificially create gravity powered by solar panels. She loved Science Olympiad tournaments where her team had to build Rube Goldberg machines or develop environmentally sustainable solutions to real societal problems. Once, in high school, she memorized 450 digits of pi just for fun\u2014and for extra credit.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it came time to apply to college, Liebig\u00a0thought practically: With graduate school in her future, she needed to save money on her undergraduate degree by staying in state. It was between NAU and one other public school\u2014until she found out that attending the other school would require a long commute between two campuses. In the end, she applied only to NAU and the Honors College.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so glad I chose NAU,\u201d she said. \u201cThe funding opportunities,\u00a0the paid undergraduate research\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0been able to do throughout my four years here,\u00a0all the supportive people in the chemistry program…I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0have been able to have all of that at a bigger school.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From quantum mechanics to bat poop<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Once in Flagstaff, Liebig hit the ground running. With the goal of\u00a0attaining\u00a0an ACS-certified degree, she enrolled in rigorous courses that covered all five subdisciplines of chemistry, from the analytical to the organic, plus classes in quantum mechanics, instrumental analysis and more. She broke up those intensive science requirements with\u00a0honors\u00a0humanities courses like Art in Social Justice, trading lab goggles for group discussions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But when it came to electives, Liebig\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0exactly take the\u00a0easy way\u00a0out. This semester,\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0enrolled in\u00a0<\/span>Drug Discovery<\/span><\/a>, a graduate-level course that requires students to navigate extremely complicated scientific concepts.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ellen<\/a>
As a researcher\u00a0in\u00a0NAU\u2019s Pathogen & Microbiome Institute (PMI), Liebig takes samples of plants and animal feces\u2014mostly bat poop\u2014and sequences their DNA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cUnderstanding how drugs work is important, especially for complex patients,\u201d Liebig said. \u201cIf you understand the chemistry behind these drugs and how they work, you might understand what\u00a0off-label\u00a0uses they can have. I want to go into treating and researching complex medical conditions, and this is an important piece of the puzzle.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cindy Browder<\/span><\/b>, the organic chemistry professor who teaches Drug Discovery, said\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0Liebig\u2019s \u201cdeep inquisitiveness,\u201d coupled with her willingness to adjust as she learns more, that\u00a0keeps her at the top of every class.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose are features of more advanced learners and allow her to function at a\u00a0level\u00a0years ahead of the typical student,\u201d Browder said. \u201cEllen is constantly asking questions and making connections between content in\u00a0all of\u00a0her courses and the problems she sees in the real world. It is\u00a0a great way\u00a0to succeed academically and to build a career in science.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Outside of class, Liebig took a paid research job\u00a0in\u00a0NAU\u2019s Pathogen & Microbiome Institute (PMI). Working with research professor\u00a0<\/span>Faith Walker<\/span><\/b>\u00a0in the Bat Ecology & Genetics Lab, Liebig takes samples of plants and animal feces\u2014mostly bat poop\u2014and sequences their DNA to help other scientists better understand different ecosystems throughout the world.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After three years in the lab, Liebig became PMI\u2019s head undergraduate researcher. The job involves overseeing\u00a0the undergraduate students within the institute, ordering lab supplies, performing safety\u00a0checks\u00a0and more.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOver time, she grew more confident and independent, carrying work from data generation through interpretation,\u201d Walker said. \u201cI\u2019ve\u00a0truly enjoyed\u00a0working with her, and I expect she will continue to grow into roles that combine research leadership with\u00a0real<\/span>\u2011world\u00a0impact. Watching her develop into a thoughtful,\u00a0capable\u00a0and collaborative young scientist has been a real highlight of mentoring.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meant to mentor<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Graduating from lab beginner to lab lead was almost inevitable for Liebig,\u00a0who\u2019s\u00a0found herself in leadership and mentorship roles for years. In high school, Liebig tutored fellow students in math, got involved with student government and served as one of seven student ambassadors for Arizona 4-H.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople think 4-H is just agriculture, but it\u2019s everything you can imagine\u2014there\u2019s underwater robotics, there\u2019s\u00a0dancing,\u201d she said. \u201cI was part of a 4-H entrepreneurship club selling handcrafted German paper stars called\u00a0Fr\u00f6belsterne. As an Arizona ambassador, I\u00a0represented\u00a0our state at national congresses and helped the 4-H Foundation promote their scholarships, which have been so essential to students who want to go to college.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ellen<\/a>
As president of Ambassadors of CEFNS, Liebig has logged many hours helping fellow students find tutoring, research jobs and scholarship opportunities.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At NAU, Liebig became a pro at finding and applying to scholarships,\u00a0<\/span>winning\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a010 over the course of four years<\/span><\/a>. Now,\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0passing her hard-earned knowledge on to others as president of the Ambassadors of the College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences (CEFNS).\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0also served as a peer mentor in the Research Assistant Mentoring Program, where she helped students land research gigs on and off campus, including at the Mayo Clinic.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of students\u2014freshmen especially\u2014think they can\u2019t apply for scholarships or internships because they don\u2019t\u00a0qualify\u00a0or they don\u2019t have enough experience,\u201d Liebig said. \u201cI like explaining all of the different opportunities, showing them how to apply and giving them tips on how you can boost your application.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0not studying and mentoring students, Liebig\u00a0de-stresses\u00a0by gardening on campus or\u00a0snuggling\u00a0with newborn babies as a volunteer in the neonatal intensive care unit at Flagstaff Medical Center.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA big part of my role is holding babies when they\u2019re\u00a0crying\u00a0and the nurses are really busy,\u201d Liebig said. \u201cIt\u2019s been great to get immersed in the clinical side of healthcare, talk to nurses and build connections with them.\u201d\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The big picture<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Liebig\u2019s experience at the hospital may be her first in a clinical setting, but it certainly\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0be her last.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ellen<\/a>
This spring, Liebig was honored with Distinguished Senior and Gold Axe awards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Next month, as she\u00a0awaits her MCAT results, Liebig will travel east for a biomedical research internship at the University of Rochester. Then,\u00a0she\u2019ll\u00a0choose her path:\u00a0medical school or a dual Ph.D.\/M.D. program.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love research, but connecting with patients and solving their medical mysteries is also very important to me,\u201d Liebig said. \u201cI\u2019m hoping to do both.\u201d\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever direction she chooses,\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0certain of one thing:\u00a0She wants a career defined by positive impact, specifically for those who have struggled to find\u00a0solutions\u00a0to their symptoms.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to treat those people who never fit the description of one specific condition or one simple set of symptoms,\u201d she said. \u201cObviously,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0valuable to have doctors with specialties, but we\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0lose sight of the bigger picture when patients\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0fit in checklists. I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0want to be someone who says, \u2018That\u2019s not my specialty; I can\u2019t help you.\u2019 I want to be able to say, \u2018What you\u2019re going through is real, and we\u2019re going to figure this out together.\u2019\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Northern<\/span><\/p>\n


\nJill Kimball | NAU Communications
\n(928) 523-2282 | jill.kimball@nau.edu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These days,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0cool\u00a0to know a lot\u00a0about a little. Researchers\u00a0carve out\u00a0hyper-specific niches in their respective fields. Social media influencers pick a lane\u2014long-distance bikepacking, trends in needlepoint\u2014and stay there. Medical students\u2019 interest in general internal medicine has halved in the last 10 years, with more of them gravitating toward specialties like\u00a0anesthesiology\u00a0or orthopedic surgery.\u202f\u00a0 But\u00a0Ellen Liebig?\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0all about the big…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":77954,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research-academics"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/95"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77952"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77952\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}