My research is focused on Engineering Education with a particular focus on computing technology.
I have been active in development and integration since my first professional position in 1998. I have worked on computer applications ranging from highly embedded systems without an operating system to massively connected applications hosted by cloud providers. I have experienced development in roles beginning with junior engineer through running larger projects and leading entire programs and system architectures.
I am looking to bring my career to the next level find a position as an instructional track faculty member with a primary focus computer technology.
Education
PhD Candidate in the department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Expected Graduation: May 2026
Research Focus: Engineering Education
Certificate in College Teaching
Awarded: May 2024
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering with honors
Degree Granted: May 1998
Honors And Awards
1997 Tau Beta Pi
Publications
Submitted or to be submitted:
Fiegel, B., Campbell, S.L., Yazvec, M., Thomas G., A Deliberate Practice Engine in Teaching SQL to Undergraduate Students
Patents
Granted
2016 Multi-modal entity tracking and display
2011 Systems and methods for slot classification
Published
2012 Radio-frequency identification tiles
2010 Radio devices and communications
Invited Presentations
“Technologies Role in Modern Electronic Toll Collection“, Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Seminar Series, University Of Iowa, October 2014
Research Experience
2021 - Present PhD Candidate Advisor: Geb Thomas
Industrial and Systems Engineering, The University of Iowa
Develop and maintain the Deliberate Practice Engine for use in the study of engineering education techniques as applied to MySQL/SQL learning for undergraduate students
Consult on the development of novel low-cost sensor nodes for noise and air quality monitoring
Teaching Experience
Classroom Assistant
Fall 2023 ENGR:1100 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving
Lead Additive Manufacturing activities and provide project team mentorship
Spring 2022 & 2024 ISE:3500 Information Systems Design
Lead classroom lecture/activities for introduction to VBA and provide general classroom assistance
Guest Lecturer
Spring 2022 ISE:5650 Mechatronics Engineering for Smart Device Design
Lead classroom lecture/activities focused on hardware/software integration using Arduino and the Arduino IDE
Grant Writing Experience
Provided contributions to the following grants
Sep 2024 – Aug 2024 PI: Thomas, Geb The University of Iowa
RUI: Collaborative Research: Understanding the Effect of a Deliberate Practice Engine on Student Self-Efficacy and academic emotion
Major Goals: The purpose of this research is to test the effect of an online learning system that emphasizes deliberate practice on student learning and self efficacy, and to understand barriers for broader dissemination.
Source of Support: NSF
Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $258,984
Aug 2022 – Sep 2024 PI: Peters, Thomas The University of Iowa
Project Multi-Hazard Sampling Network
Major Goals: The objectives of this project are to provide specifications for new monitor versions, perform basic research to support the sensor network deployment, development of a new particulate matter sensor, deploy the sensor network in the field to investigate USAF-relevant use cases.
Source of Support: UES, Inc / USAF (prime)
Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $300,000
Professional Experience
Sensor Ventures, LLC Iowa City, IA
Nov '21 - Present Co-Founder
New product development
Technical consulting
Buoyant Technologies, Inc. Columbia, MD
Apr '15 - Aug '24 Director Of Software Engineering
New product development
Custom microcontroller board
Custom desktop applications
Custom handheld applications
Program management
Team management
Android application development
Google Dialog Flow consulting and development
Xerox State & Local Germantown, MD
Mar '14 - Apr '15 Senior Solutions Architect
Lead multiple teams in the development of solutions for tolling proposals
Write and Review substantial sections of tolling RFP responses
Lead a team maintaining PCI compliance throughout the ETC environment
Trimble Navigation Limited (formerly ThingMagic, Inc.) Cambridge, MA
Jun '08- Mar '14 Principal Software Engineer
Dec '06-Jun '08 Senior Software Engineer
Feb '05-Dec '06 Project Engineer
Designed and developed Linux based RFID reader systems in C
Designed and developed OSless RFID reader modules for embedding in internal and external products
Lead a team of 7 engineers in the development of a FreeRTOS based RFID reader system for high performance and rapid development
Designed and developed a vertically integrated tag tracking system for construction site deployments
Designed and developed a cross platform C based API for interacting with ThingMagic RFID modules
Lead development of 5 engineers in the development of mobile high performance RFID solution to government evaluation
Developed and maintained Linux kernel drivers for the Intel XScale processor
Interviewed new candidates
Maintained and extended the reader API
Instructed class of 10 to 20 customers on product usage
Affiliated Computer Services (purchased by Xerox) Rockville, MD
Oct '02-Feb '05 Senior Software Engineer
Sep '00-Oct '02 Software Engineer
Designed/developed/debugged/deployed Linux/UNIX-based toll lane control systems in C/C++
Team Lead for lane software development
Developed and maintained Linux kernel drivers
Integrated with third party devices, e.g. RFID readers, in-road sensors, touchscreens
Ported existing UNIX based lane system for a new Linux based "McDonalds" implementation
Oversaw the conversion of lane system code base from C to Rational Rose RT C++
Lead a team of 3 engineers in the development of a high speed open road tolling solution
Provided on-site support to installation and maintenance teams
Lockheed Martin Corporation Fairfax, VA
July '98-Sep '00 Associate Applications Software Engineer
Developed and debugged Linux/UNIX-based toll lane control systems in C
Coordinated and assisted customers with problem resolution
Consulting Experience
Buoyant Technologies, Inc. Columbia, MD
Oct '05-Dec '06 Principal Consultant
Developed and maintained customer relationships
Implemented enterprise automation scripts
Installed phone system onsite
Zefex.com Las Vegas, NV
Feb '00-Dec '03 Senior Developer
Administered Linux servers
Designed, implemented and debugged Housing Suite software package for West Virginia Wesleyan College
Interfaced with customers for feature implementations
Extended and maintained database driven, web content management system