Dagmar Erika Niebur

Dagmar Erika Niebur (66) of Baltimore MD lost her fight with cancer on July 10th 2023. She was born and raised in Dortmund, West Germany as the oldest of three children. After graduating from Schiller high school, she acquired a Master's degree in Mathematics at the University of Dortmund.

Subsequently moving to Lausanne, Switzerland, she obtained a second Master's degree, in Computer Science, followed by a PhD in Electrical Engineering, both from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL). During this time, she also worked in computer engineering at the University of Lausanne. She came to the United States in 1989 where she held a research position at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA until 1995. From 1991 to 1994, she was on leave performing research in electrical engineering at EPFL. Dr. Niebur joined the faculty of Drexel University in 1996 where she was an Associate Professor until her passing. From 2007 to 2009, she joined the National Science Foundation (NSF) on assignment from Drexel University. At NSF she served as the Program Director for the Power, Controls and Adaptive Networks Program in the Directorate for Engineering. Her responsibilities within the program included power and energy networks as well as alternative energy sources. She was also a visiting professor at the Center for Energy Research (CEPEL) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dr. Niebur co-authored over 100 refereed scientific publications. In addition, she was the co-editor of the first book on neural networks for power systems and of several tutorial programs in the field that were published by the leading professional society in electrical engineering, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

In 1978 Dagmar met Ernst Niebur, PhD, in Norway and they married on July 4th, 1986. Their son Tobias was born 1998 in Baltimore.

Dagmar loved traveling and reading, in particular with the close friends of her book club. She was passionate about singing in choirs in Germany, Switzerland, and in the United States. In the latter, she was a member of the Baltimore Symphony Chorus until its dissolution. She performed on stage in a large variety of programs, with artists ranging in genre from Garrison Keillor to Sir Neville Mariner.

After her cancer diagnosis in 2007, Dagmar became a strong advocate of cancer research, including through regular interactions with the US Senate and the House of Representatives.

Services to be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers we ask for donations in her memory to the Kidney Cancer Coalition (KidneyCAN.org), a charity in which Dagmar was deeply involved. The Coalition provides means of stimulating kidney cancer-related research through advocacy and direct fundraising. kidneyCAN.org is a US public charity (EIN #81-3352468), donations are tax-deductible under Section 501 (C)(3) of the US tax code.