In order to support NADS ongoing research and innovation initiatives, NADS works closely with universities, community colleges, and high schools to help find and match top talent with our various opportunities. We are fortunate to have both recent graduates and current students on board helping us discover ways to make roadways safer.
Click on a name in the list to the right to learn a little more about our talented staff of student professionals.
Stephen Brzykcy
M.S. Psychology
Chicago, IL
Stephen provides research support by coordinating and facilitating many of NADS’ studies. Before he came to NADS he was a musician in his hometown using his many musical talents playing the guitar and the bass, as well as singing and writing.
Erin Abbas, Research Assistant
B,S. Psychology
Davenport, IA
Erin does recruiting for NADS as well as participant briefing. She is also running one of the studies happening this summer. She plans to continue her education to get her PhD in clinical psychology with an emphasis in neuro-psychology. Outside of work she stays active being a swim instructor and unwinds with movies.
Sayeh Sabbagh
M.S. Social Work specializing in Family Center Therapy
Los Angeles, CA
Sayeh does recruiting and is integral to keeping NADS participant registry current. She has lived in many places throughout the US, which suits her love of travel. Her long term career goal is to eventually have her own private psychotherapy practice.
Catie Johnson, Research Assistant
B.S. Anthropology and Ancient Civilizations,
w/ Minor in Religious Studies
Lisbon, IA
Catie does data collection and analysis for NADS, which combine two of her favorite things of always learning and working with people. She plans to continue her education and eventually teach someday. Her favorite way to refresh is watch movies with friends.
Brandt Uitermarkt
M.A. Behavioral Neuroscience
Pella, IA
Brandt brings many years of research experience, especially in the areas of behavioral neuroscience and psychology, to NADS. He coordinates various studies, and is currently focusing on the ABM study. During his free time you will find him outdoors biking, camping, kayaking, hunting, or fishing.
Andy is facilitating the pharmacodynamics studies to find how various classes of drugs impair driving over time. A current study he is working on involves using an EEG helmet to monitor brain activity, and it’s changes during driving with and without drug administration. He continues to look for new opportunities to add information to the current literature involving substances that have limited experimental information on how they impair drivers. His regular dose of enjoyment is going Frisbee golfing with his friends.
Dylan Wiest
Biomedical Engineering, Junior
Des Plaines, IL
Dylan assists with many of the engineering projects and is currently help design new button boxes for the simulators, including the one traveling to the ITS conference. He plans to pursue a career in prosthetics because he likes that it is way a different avenue of helping people other than medicine. Dylan remains active outside of work playing volleyball with his friends.
Mitch Hildebrand
Industrial Maintenance Technology at Kirkwood Community College, Senior
Dundee, IA
Mitch helps out with various activities related to electronics and instrumentation. Currently, he performs the installation of data and video recorders into automobiles in support of naturalistic driving studies. From the wiring to installing the data acquisition nodes, computers, and cameras, he makes sure each vehicle is equipped. When he is not working he is outdoors either hunting or fishing.
Brian Choi
Math & Computer Science, Junior at Washington University
Iowa City, IA
Brian helps create auto-drivers for the miniSim, where he provides both his math and programing expertise using C++ API’s and MATLAB data. After graduating he hopes to develop software or do research. When he is not programming one of his favorite things to do is play badminton.
Jacob Heiden
Interdepartmental Studies, Health Sciences & Entrepreneurship Emphasis, Senior
Denison, IA
Jacob helps with data collection as well as helps coordinate participant scheduling for various studies. When he isn’t working you will probably find him outdoors playing basketball, football, or disc golf with his friends. His active lifestyle is what inspired him to study health.
Luka Zdilar
Computer Engineering, sophomore
Cedar Falls, IA
Luka is helping develop various driving scenarios for the simulation applications. He started out as a self-taught programmer because he has always had an interest for programming and electronics. It fits well with his talent for playing the electric guitar during his free time. When he graduates he hopes to work for a major software company doing back-end development.
Kevin Lewis
Computer Engineering, Senior
Ottumwa, IA
Kevin is currently making NADS Interactive Scenario Authoring Tool more user-friendly. From fixing bugs to reducing the number of steps it takes to get through a menu, he is putting his C++ skills to work. He is on the University’s cross country and track team running events like the 5000 m and 10,000 m. In the summer of 2016 he hopes to qualify for the Olympic trials (his time is only 40 seconds away)!
Shane Peot
Biomedical Engineering & Mechanical Engineering, Senior
Robins, IA
Shane helps with data collection for various studies as well as helps coordinate recent impairment studies. He provides his mechanical expertise to help test the simulator when needed. He is a natural engineer and is actively involved with University of Iowa Society of Automotive Engineering, which designs, builds, and races Baja Cars.
Adrienne McKee
B.S. Journalism, B.A. Computer Science, 2014
Muscatine, IA
Adrienne is providing marketing and web support for NADS. She is combining her writing background and technical skills to help showcase the various technical and research advancements happening at NADS. Outside of work she likes to stay active doing something different every day. Her current favorite activities are hot yoga, Pilates, and CrossFit.
Evan Stout
Mechanical Engineering, freshman at University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Solon, IA
Evan helps with the miniSim simulator. He’s currently creating a more realistic steering experience with a Logitech wheel. He’s utilizing his experience from one of his current projects of rebuilding a car that he does in his free time. His takeaway from NADS, so far, is adjusting to an office setting since his previous job experiences are in manual labor.
Andrew Zeng - UTC
Junior at Plano West High School
Plano, TX
Andrew came to NADS through the opportunity with the UTC program. He does statistical analysis on existing simulation research data using MATLAB. Other than learning new software programs, his big takeaway from the experience has been learning how to adjust to the office work environment. He likes to watch Korean and Chinese TV Dramas when he isn’t working.
Nicole Becklinger
PhD Industrial Engineering, 2016
Merengo, IL
Nicole has helped with many previous NADS studies and is now focused on her thesis where she is designing a self-report system for agricultural machines, similar to ones used in aviation. She is naturally hands on and outside of work you will find her designing and making clothing. She also teaches English to Japanese students online. After she graduates she hopes to work in Japan for a few years before eventually returning to teach.
Yu Jiang
PhD – Clinical Pharmaceutical Science
Hubei Provence, China
Yu Jiang is working on a pharmacodynamics study where she is creating and analyzing PK/PD models to measure the relationship between driving impairment and blood alcohol levels over time. The opportunity is closely related to her goals after graduation to do research for a pharmaceutical company. Other than school and work she is frequently at the gym where she runs and takes Zumba classes.
Romeo Abraham
M.S. Urban and Regional Planning, 2015
Ghana
Romeo is reviewing the state of the art in vector network data with an emphasis on developing a complete, gap-free network for use in simulation. His literature review will be used as the basis for algorithm development. Romeo is using Graphic Information Systems to perform various analyses, which suites his career goals of finding something that will keep him problem solving. When he isn’t working or going to school he reads, watches movies, or plays soccer for fun.
Kayla Smith
PhD Occupational Injury Prevention, 2017
Marion, IA
Kayla has been providing research support since she was an undergrad and is currently helping with NADS recruiting. When she graduates she plans to continue with research focusing on driving and injury prevention. Her career goals suit her main hobby of helping with dog rescues where she provides a foster home to dogs in need to help rehabilitate them and find them homes.
Hawkmail
Simulators & Vehicles
