Alia Sabur Became the Youngest Female Professor at 18
Materials scientist Alia Sabur became a university professor at 18 years and 362 days after entering college at ten.
Alia Sabur reached university before most children enter middle school—and entered the professoriate before turning nineteen.
18y 362d
Age at appointment
10
Age entering university
14
Age graduating college
An accelerated education
Born in New York in 1989, Sabur entered Stony Brook University at ten and graduated summa cum laude at fourteen. She later pursued materials science and engineering at Drexel University.
Her work focused on how materials behave at extremely small scales, where structure can radically change strength and conductivity.
The professorship record
Konkuk University in Seoul appointed Sabur to its Department of Advanced Technology Fusion effective 19 February 2008. Guinness records her age as 18 years and 362 days, making her the youngest female university professor.
Her official role was International Professor as Research Liaison with Stony Brook University.
More than academic speed
Sabur was also an accomplished clarinet player and earned a taekwondo black belt as a child. Those pursuits suggest a broader pattern: disciplined practice across fields rather than intelligence operating alone.
A precise correction
She is often described as becoming professor “at 19.” She was three days short of her nineteenth birthday. In 2026 Guinness recognized a younger male professor, while Sabur retains the female record.
Source: Guinness World Records
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