America is a land of opportunity and has been a beacon of hope and prosperity for people from all over the world. Many individuals have come to the United States in search of a better life and have achieved great success through hard work, determination, and a willingness to take risks. Finding the right college fit can be a challenge for domestic students, but it can be extraordinarily challenging for international students.
Growing up in the USSR and Russia, Gleb Yushin only applied to one university in the United States: NC State University. He was drawn to wide-bandgap semiconductor research and felt so lucky to be accepted into the MSE Ph.D. program in 1999. Gleb credits MSE faculty member, and MSE alum, Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor Zlatko Sitar, as not only his advisor but also for supporting him throughout his program.
Gleb received his Ph.D. from NC State MSE in 2003 and became the CTO of Sila Nanotechnologies in 2011. He was inducted into the MSE Hall of Fame in 2018. He was recently interviewed by Forbes magazine and offered a glimpse into his journey as an immigrant to a Ph.D. student, to his company being awarded $100 million by the Department of Energy this year. This inspiring story shows the skill, knowledge and determination that our alumni like Gleb develop so that they can succeed in their careers and be an inspiration to others.