Vlatko Minev

Dr. Zlatko K. Minev received his PhD in Applied Physics from Yale in 2018. At IBM Quantum, Dr. Minev built and led the Qiskit Leap research and Qiskit Metal teams, advancing quantum processor design and large-scale experiments with quantum error mitigation. Zlatko graduated from Yale with distinction, and his groundbreaking dissertation on catching and reversing quantum jumps mid-flight addressed a fundamental quantum debate originating with Bohr, Einstein, and Schrödinger, and was recognized as Discover Magazine’s top Math/Physical Sciences discovery of the year.  

Zlatko developed IBM’s Qiskit Metal, the first full-stack quantum hardware design platform. He pioneered practical error mitigation methods, which became a backbone of quantum cloud experiments and are now widely adopted as a gold standard. Recently, his team pioneered the first use of AI for quantum mitigation beyond the 100-qubit scale. Recognized globally, he has been named one of MIT Technology Review’s 35 Global Innovators and was awarded the Presidential John Atanasoff Award. Outside the lab, Zlatko volunteers on the Board of Governors of the Yale Alumni Association and earned Yale’s highest public service honor, the Yale-Jefferson Award, for his work championing science education and outreach. Listen to his interview for advice on how to pursue your passions and jumpstart your career after Yale.