Ivan Miketic ’17, PhD, is a physical design engineer at Apple. He earned his BS in Physics from Adelphi and a PhD from Stony Brook, where he studied chip-level security. Adelphi’s supportive faculty and hands-on learning helped launch his path into high-performance silicon design.
Member of Adelphi University’s 10 Under 10
Physical design engineer at Apple
Ivan Miketic ’17, PhD, is a physical design engineer at Apple, where he works on high-performance chip design that powers cutting-edge consumer technology. His role places him at the forefront of innovation, contributing to technologies that have a global impact alongside brilliant colleagues who are pushing the boundaries of silicon design.
Ivan earned his BS in Physics from the Adelphi University College of Arts and Sciences, where an engaging and supportive environment gave him the confidence to pursue challenging topics in physics and engineering. He then pursued his PhD in Electrical Engineering at Stony Brook University, focused on developing novel techniques for protecting integrated circuits from reverse engineering and counterfeiting.
Adelphi’s emphasis on mentorship, critical thinking and collaboration laid the foundation for Ivan’s advanced study and passion for innovation. Professors Sean Bentley, PhD, and Matthew Wright, PhD, were especially influential, offering opportunities like coursework in digital circuits, independent research in semiconductor physics and an early introduction to MATLAB. His first research experience was in Professor Gottipatty Rao, PhD’s lab, where he worked on trace gas detection using spectroscopy. It introduced him to the excitement of scientific discovery and sparked a lasting interest in research.
Outside of his professional role, Ivan remains passionate about problem-solving and mentorship. He encourages students to welcome academic challenges, reflecting, “It’s okay to struggle—working through hard problems is where the most valuable learning happens.”
Ivan’s journey is marked by curiosity, perseverance and deep appreciation for the professors and academic community that helped guide him from undergraduate research to cutting-edge innovation at Apple.