Heidi Leerkamp

Associate Director of Research and Program Development

University of Illinois System

IIN Staff

Heidi Leerkamp joined the Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation (VPEDI) office in Spring 2025, serving as Associate Director of Research and Program Development. Her primary focus is to support large-scale and interdisciplinary proposals, identify external funding sources, and to support new and ongoing programs on behalf of the Office of the Vice President for Economic Development, the University of Illinois System, and the Illinois Innovation Network.

Heidi’s research administration career spans multiple roles including program manager and lead proposal developer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

Heidi is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in finance and is an Illini Certified Research Administrator.