Dr. F. Fred Choobineh, P.E., Director, Nebraska EPSCoR

Dr. Choobineh is a professor of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering and Milton E. Mohr Distinguished Professor of Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he also holds a courtesy appointment as a professor of Management. His research interests include design and control of manufacturing systems and the use of approximate reasoning techniques such as fuzzy sets and evidence theory in modeling decision situations and risk analysis. His research has been funded by NSF and industry. He is a recipient of the Nebraska Legislator Award for Distinguished Teaching in the College of Engineering and is a four-time recipient of the Nebraska Parents Association and Teaching Council Recognition Award for Contributions to Students. Dr. Choobineh received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Masters of Engineering and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and a member of IEEE and IIE. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Nebraska and serves on the state Board of Engineers and Architects.

Ms. Sarah Zulkoski-Benson, Outreach Coordinator

Ms. Zulkoski-Benson received a bachelors degree of science in Biochemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UN-L) in 1999. After graduating, she continued working for MDS PharmaServices as a manager in the bioanalytical department where she had done data analysis and laboratory work as an undergraduate. In 2003 Ms. Zulkoski-Benson began coursework at UN-L to receive a Masters of Secondary Teaching in science and a Nebraska teaching certificate. She began working for UN-L’s Center for Biotechnology in 2004, under the direction of Dr. Michael Fromm where she developed and administrates the Molecular Biology for Secondary Classrooms (MBSC) program. MBSC serves more than 1,000 high school students in eastern Nebraska each year and is funded by Nebraska EPSCoR and the Center for Biotechnology. In September 2007, Nebraska EPSCoR presented the opportunity for Ms. Zulkoski-Benson to manage the program’s outreach components. She is eager to enhance and expand the opportunities for Nebraska EPSCoR to positively impact Nebraska students, teachers and researchers.

Dr. Stephanie Vogel, Communications Specialist

Dr. Vogel has served the university in a variety of capacities--as assistant director of the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) Alumni Association and as director of development for the University of Nebraska Foundation. She received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a master’s degree in Speech Communication from UNK and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Higher Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UN-L). Her dissertation, Development of an Alumnae Mentoring Program: A Case Study, received the 2003 H.S. Warwick Research Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). In addition to her work in higher education, Dr. Vogel has also worked in corporate and community relations for a Lincoln-based financial institution. She accepted the communications specialist position with Nebraska EPSCoR in 2009 and brings 20 years of writing, editing and design experience to the program’s publication and communication efforts.

Ms. Karla Roth, Administrative Assistant
Ms. Roth received a bachelors degree in Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UN-L) in 1985. After graduating, she began working in the advertising/publishing field, which included a position with HBJ Publications, Nebraska Farmer Magazine as an editorial assistant. The company produced several farm magazines throughout the United States, in addition to the Nebraska Farmer Magazine. After the relocation of the production operation to the HBJ headquarters in Orlando, Fla., she began working on a contract basis for several companies in the creation and production of various promotional materials. The creation of the Nebraska EPSCoR program brought an opportunity for Ms. Roth to use her varied skills as an administrative assistant, a position in which she has served since its inception in October 1991.

Ms. Nancy Simnitt, Administrative Technician
Ms. Simnitt received her Associates of Applied Science degree in Administrative Secretarial from Southeast Community College-Lincoln in 1986. She began her career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UN-L) as Secretary to the Director of the School of Biological Sciences. The position provided many opportunities for increased job responsibilities and advancement. After 11 years, she took advantage of an opportunity to work in a private company in Lincoln. In 2001, Nebraska EPSCoR needed additional staff to support the increased funding and programs that had been added over the last few years. Ms. Simnitt was excited to be able to return to the research/academic setting and support the continued success of Nebraska EPSCoR.

For more information, contact:
Nebraska EPSCoR
UNL Campus
W192 Nebraska Hall
Lincoln, NE 68588-0557
Phone: (402) 472-8946
Fax: (402) 472-8948
Email: Nebraska EPSCoR, F Fred Choobineh, Sarah Zulkoski-Benson, Stephanie Vogel, Karla Roth or Nancy Simnitt