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My research spans whole-body vibration and engineering education, with a particular focus on computing technology. I have been active in software development and systems integration since my first professional position in 1998, working on applications ranging from bare-metal embedded systems to large-scale cloud-hosted applications. Across that time, I have worked in roles from junior engineer to leading full programs and defining system architectures. I am looking to transition into an instructional-track faculty position.
Education
University of Iowa, Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, expected Aug 2026
Develop and maintain the Deliberate Practice Engine to study 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
Develop hardware and software sensor systems for whole-body vibration research
University of Iowa, M.S. in Industrial Engineering, Aug 2025
Graduate Certificate in College Teaching, May 2024
University of Massachusetts Amherst, B.S. in Computer Systems Engineering with honors, May 1998
Teaching Experience
ISE:3500 Information Systems Design
Teaching Assistant Spring 2025
Classroom Assistant Spring 2024
Developed and delivered lectures on networking basics, software version control, Visual Basic for Applications basics, Visual Basic for Applications GUI development, Introduction to MySQL Workbench, and Cascading Style Sheets
Graded individual and group assignments
Proctored exams and quizzes
Assisted students in classroom during active learning activities
ISE:5650 Mechatronics Engineering for Smart Device Design
Guest Instructor Spring 2025
Led classroom lecture on "What are mechatronic systems"
Developed and led in-classroom active learning exercises covering discrete electronic components and their uses, Arduino Uno capabilities and limitations, analog-to-digital conversion, pulse width modulation, transistors, and motor control in mechatronic systems, and firmware development and testing in the Arduino environment
Guest Student Lecturer Spring 2022
Led a three-lecture series on hardware/software integration in a combined lab/lecture environment, covering circuit fundamentals using discrete components, construction and testing of live circuits, and firmware development in the Arduino IDE to control external components including motors and sensors using an Arduino Uno
ENGR:1100 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving
Classroom Assistant Fall 2024
Graduate Teaching Fellow (mentored) Fall 2023
Developed and delivered 3D printing learning module using Creo Parametric and Slic3r
Developed and delivered small group lessons for 3D model design using Creo and printing using Bambu Labs printers
Coordinated 3 days of in-class team activities: tower building, ethics, silly product pitches
Met with project teams to review progress and provide feedback
Provided mentorship on team projects
Expanded reverse engineering project to include electrical components.
Provided technical support for electrical final projects
Presentations
Fiegel, B. M., Thomas, G. W., & Yazvec, M. (2025, June). Enhancing SQL Learning Through Gamified Deliberate Practice: The Impact of Engagement and Feedback in Undergraduate Education. Paper presented at the 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Fiegel, B. M., Yazvec, M., & Thomas, G. W. (2024, April 25). Enhancing SQL Learning Through Gamified Deliberate Practice [Poster presentation]. College of Engineering Research Open House, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.
Fiegel, B. M. (2014, October). Technology's Role in Modern Electronic Toll Collection. Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Seminar Series, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. (Invited talk.)
Service
Breakout Session Scribe. (2025, March 19–20). erVa Visioning Event: Engineering Research to Catalyze Resilient Rural Communities. College of Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. Sessions: Energy: Smart Infrastructure, Microgrids, Green Energy, Grid Resilience, and Energy Storage; Research for Future Transportation Infrastructure, Autonomous Vehicles, and Movement of Goods and Services.
Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Industrial and Systems Engineering Social Committee, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. (2024–2025, inaugural year).
Professional Development
Graduate Certificate in College Teaching, College of Education, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.
ePortfolio in College Teaching
Teaching & Learning in Higher Education
Seminar in College Teaching
Practicum in College Teaching·
Excellence in Engineering Education, Faculty Learning Community, Center for Teaching, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. September 2024–May 2025.
Conducting Research in Engineering Education, Community of Practice, Center for Teaching, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. September 2022–August 2024.
HawkAI Certificate of Proficiency in Artificial Intelligence, Level 2, Iowa Initiative for Artificial Intelligence, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. March 2025.
HawkAI Certificate of Proficiency in Artificial Intelligence, Level 1, Iowa Initiative for Artificial Intelligence, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. December 2024.
Publications
Published:
Fiegel, B. M., & Thomas, G. W., & Yazvec, M. (2025), Enhancing SQL Learning Through Gamified Deliberate Practice: The Impact of Engagement and Feedback in Undergraduate Education, Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 10.18260/1-2-56423
Fiegel, B., Dhabi, Y., Rahmatalla, S., Thomas, G., Guzowski, T., Ritchie, E., Wilder, D., Fethke, N. (in press). Posture Prediction of Individuals Using Agricultural Machinery Under Whole-Body Vibration in a Lab Environment. Vibration. doi:10.3390/vibration9020025
Submitted:
Fiegel, B., Thomas G. (accepted). Gamified SQL Practice with Confidence Wagering: Links to Metacognition and Summative Performance. Computers in Education Journal.
Fiegel, B., Dhabi, Y., Thomas, G. Rahmatalla, S., Ritchie, E., Ramker, A., Stroh, O., Wilder, D., Fethke, N. (accepted). A customized system for whole-body vibration measurement: system design and accuracy of low-cost accelerometers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.
Works In Progress:
Fiegel, B., Thomas G. Gamified SQL Practice with Confidence Wagering: Testing Interventions for Metacognitive Monitoring Failures.
Rahmatalla, S., Dhabi, Y., Fiegel, B., Ritchie, E., Guzowski, T., Thomas, G., Wilder, D., Fethke, N. Effect on non-neutral seated postures on whole-body vibration measurements.
Patents
Granted
2016 Multi-modal entity tracking and display (US9400902B2)
2011 Systems and methods for slot classification (US8022814B2)
Grant Writing Experience
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)
Project Number: S-194-11G-001
Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $300,000 (funded)
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
Requested Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $258,984 (unfunded)
Professional Experience
Sensor Ventures, LLC Iowa City, IA
Nov '21 - Present Co-Founder
Provided technical expertise for new product development and field deployment
Designed and debugged digital circuits for controller and sensor boards
Designed and developed software for embedded sensor monitor and manufacturing process
Buoyant Technologies, Inc. Columbia, MD
Apr '15 - Aug '24 Director Of Software Engineering
Designed and developed new custom desktop and handheld applications
Managed conversion of large multi-site phone system for 24/7 critical infrastructure customer
Led multiple teams in the development of internal software tools
Led a team of 10 engineers in the development of Google Dialog Flow interactive voice response system
Designed and developed mobile and desktop applications
Xerox State & Local Germantown, MD
Mar '14 - Apr '15 Senior Solutions Architect
Led multiple teams in the development of solutions for tolling proposals
Wrote and reviewed 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
Led 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
Led 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++
Led 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
Professional Organizations
Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society), Member, 1997–present
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), Member, 2023–present
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