Alia Sabur: The World’s Youngest University Professor

Alia Sabur had a deep interest in science and math starting from a young age. Through her hard work and passion for the field, she set a world record in the STEM field. 

Alia Sabur, from New York City, is a child prodigy and mathematician. With her dedication and intelligence, she defied the expectations for women in science and pursued her love for the field. 

Sabur is most well known for breaking the record of being the "world’s youngest professor." When she was only eighteen, she was appointed to the position of an International Professor at Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea. This achievement beat the previous record held by Colin Maclaurin, one of Isaac Newton’s students, who became a professor at the age of 19 in 1717.  

Sabur was admitted to Stony Brook University at ten years old, one of the youngest college students ever. When she was 14, she graduated from universitysumma cum laude with a degree in applied mathematics.Later on, Sabur received her M.Sc and Ph.D. degree at Drexel University in materials science and engineering. 

At a young age, Alia Sabur’s family knew she was gifted. Sabur learned to read when she was only eight months old and had already completed the primary school curriculum by the age of five. When she was in first grade, she “tested off the IQ scale,” and in fourth grade, Sabur left regular public school to attend college instead.

Now, Sabur is 31 years old and continues to put her skills towards helping others. After her position as a professor, she worked on developing tools for medical research as well as creating non-invasive devices for people with diabetes. More recently, she became an attorney for the US patent and trademark office, where she works on intellectual property disputes.

Sabur is dedicated to encouraging more young people to pursue a career in science. She is especially committed to acting as a role model for young girls and breaking stereotypes for women in STEM. 

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