Niskayuna man sentenced to probation after stealing GE chip secrets FacebookTwitterEmail 5 1of5A GE worker with silicon carbide wafers at the company's research lab in Niskayuna. GE is transferring its silicon carbide chip development to SUNY Poly in Albany. Show MoreShow Less 2of5Silicon wafers made with the silicon carbide (SiC) fabrication process at at GE Global Research in Niskayuna. (General Electric)Michael Hemberger/PhotographerShow MoreShow Less 3of5 4of5Silicon wafer made with the silicon carbide (SiC) fabrication process at at GE Global Research in Niskayuna. (General Electric)Michael Hemberger/PhotographerShow MoreShow Less 5of5 ALBANY - A former General Electric Co. employee who admitted to stealing computer chip technology trade secrets while he was stationed at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany was sentenced to a year of probation in federal court on Friday.