Rate My Professor Donald Zinger

Donald Zinger serves as Interim Chair and Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Northern Illinois University. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin (1988) and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the same university (1983). His academic career includes positions as Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University since 1993. Previously, he was Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Akron from 1988 to 1993 and Design Engineer at Midway Manufacturing in Franklin Park, Illinois, from 1978 to 1981. A registered Professional Engineer in Illinois since 1996, Zinger is a Senior Member of the IEEE, elected in 1994. He has held significant leadership roles in IEEE organizations, including Chairman of the Industry Applications Society Manufacturing Systems Development and Applications Department (2004-2005), Vice Chairman for Papers in the Industry Applications Magazine for the same department (1999-2003), Chairman of the IEEE Rock River Valley Section (1999-2000), and Chairman of the Industry Applications Society Industrial Automation and Control Committee (1997-1998). Zinger also serves on the faculty and scientific staff at the Northern Illinois Center for Accelerator and Detector Development.

Zinger's research interests include alternative energy, power electronics, lighting, electric machine control, and industrial controls. He has authored numerous publications in leading journals, contributing to advancements in power systems and control technologies. Notable works include 'PI and Fuzzy Estimators for Tuning the Stator Resistance in Direct Torque Control of Induction Machines' (IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 1998, with S. Mir and M.E. Elbuluk), 'Annualized Wind Energy Improvement Using Variable Speeds' (IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 1997, with E. Muljadi), 'A Variable Speed Wind Turbine Power Control' (IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, 1997, with A. Miller and E. Muljadi), 'Learning Techniques to Train Neural Networks as a State Selector for Inverter-fed Induction Machines Using Direct Torque Control' (IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 1997, with L.A. Cabrera and M.E. Elbuluk), and 'The Influence of Motor Parameter Deviations in Feedforward Field Orientation Drive Systems' (IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 1985, with K.B. Nordin and D.W. Novotny). His contributions have earned him awards such as the Outstanding Student Branch Counselor Award (2006), NIU Outstanding Faculty Advisor from the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (2004), Faculty of the Year for Outstanding Service to Students (2001), and CEET of the Year for Excellence in Undergraduate Education (2000). Zinger continues to advise students and participate in university governance, including the Academic Planning Council.