I am a Staff Data & ML Engineer at Western Digital. Here is my background:

Zulfidin (Bobojon) earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) from The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) in just 2.5 years, compared to the typical 5-7 years. Bobojon graduated at the top of his school from a prestigious science and mathematics high school (Lyceum for Gifted Students) in Tajikistan. He later earned two degrees from Turkey's #1 engineering school. He had the opportunity to study in Greece and later moved to the U.S. for his Ph.D., where he earned his degree from Texas's #1 engineering school (#6 in U.S.).

Bobojon has earned many top awards throughout his career. He received the Harry and Rubye Gaston Graduate Scholarship (2024-2025), the Friends of Alec Graduate Fellowship (2023-2024),  the UT Austin Engineering Fellowship (2022-2023) and a NSF fellowship (2020-2021). His research success earned him the GAIN 2023 Department Award, the ECE Outstanding Student Fellowship (Spring 2024), first place in the MMM Intermag 2022 Magnetic Sensor Challenge, and status as a National Science Foundation Scholar (2020-2021). His work was featured on the cover of Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering (November 2024). As an entrepreneur, he reached the finals in both the 2021 Love's Entrepreneur's Cup and Riata Business Plan Competition. Internationally, he was an Erasmus+ Scholar at AuTH in Greece and was offered a prestigious EMJMD scholarship. In high school, he won 1st place in Mathematics and 3rd place in Biology at Tajikistan's national Olympiads.

In recognition of his extraordinary ability and contributions in electrical and computer engineering, the U.S. government granted him permanent residency through the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) program.

His academic background includes multiple degrees in physics and engineering:

M.S. in Physics from Oklahoma State University, USA

B.S. in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ABET-accredited dual degree program, #1 engineering) from Istanbul Technical University, Turkey

B.S. in Physics Engineering from Istanbul Technical University, Turkey

As part of his Ph.D. thesis, he was an intern at a private company, working on integrating deep neural networks (GenAI: diffusion models, variational autoencoders) into the design workflow.

As a Research Assistant at UT Austin, he explored neuromorphic computing applications in neuroscience and nanotechnology, with research focusing on skyrmion magnetic material growth and neuromorphic device design and analysis.

His undergraduate research focused on machine learning applications in wireless communication networks, including interference detection and authentication. A local startup company adopted the statistical method from his thesis for vehicle localization and data protection. During his undergraduate studies, he spent one year as an exchange student at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Zulfidin is fluent in four languages, with Tajik being his native language. He is outgoing, welcoming, and dedicated to his work.

Work authorization in the US and UK:

U.S. Work Authorization: No visa sponsorship needed, 

EB2-NIW green  card (demonstrating outstanding ability and expertise)

U.K. Work Authorization: No visa sponsorship is needed, 

High Potential Individual visa (showing exceptional academic merit)