Dear Students,
We are pleased to announce a new course open to both undergraduate and graduate students: Materials and Innovation from Lab to Market.
This interdisciplinary course explores how breakthrough materials and technologies move from laboratory discovery to real-world products that shape global industries. Designed for students across all engineering majors, the course highlights how innovations in textiles, composites, polymers, and smart materials influence construction, manufacturing, energy, electronics, and beyond.
Instructor: Dr. Iulian Bobe
Dr. Bobe is an entrepreneur and technologist with a global career spanning biotech, cleantech, and deep tech. He began his career in Tokyo, where he played a key role in taking NanoCarrier public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. After relocating to the United States, he co-founded CIRC Inc. in Virginia, pioneering textile recycling technology for poly-cotton blends. CIRC’s breakthrough innovation earned global recognition, including an Earthshot Prize win.
Currently, Dr. Bobe serves as CEO and Co-Founder of UpCycle Fiber Inc., continuing his leadership in sustainable materials innovation.
This course offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from an experienced entrepreneur who has successfully brought advanced material technologies to market on a global scale.
We encourage you to consider enrolling and taking advantage of this exciting opportunity.
Please feel free to reach out to Tazmonique Lankford (tlankfor@odu.edu) with any questions.