Dr. Elisabeth Huff Lonergan is a native of northeast Missouri where she was active in 4-H and FFA livestock programs. In 1988 she received her BS from the University of Missouri/Columbia. She then attended graduate school at Iowa State University where in 1991 she received her MS in Meat Science and in 1995 she received her Ph.D. degree in both Meat Science and Muscle Biology with a minor in Biochemistry. Immediately following graduation in May of 1995, she assumed responsibilities as assistant professor in meat science and muscle biology in the Animal and Dairy Science Department at Auburn University. In October of 1998, Dr. Huff Lonergan joined the Animal Science Department at Iowa State University. Her major research focus is on elucidating biochemical mechanisms in muscle that ultimately influence fresh meat quality. She has created an internationally renowned, independently funded fundamental program that results in significant practical applications for the industry. Dr. Elisabeth Huff Lonergan is an internationally known and highly respected researcher in her field of applied muscle biology and early postmortem muscle/meat biochemistry.