Engineering prodigy becomes youngest university professor in history

Nathan Thomas, a 21-year-old engineering prodigy, has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the youngest university professor in history. In August 2023, at the age of 18 years and 346 days, Thomas began teaching at Miami Dade College in Florida. This milestone surpassed the 306-year-old record previously held by Colin Maclaurin, who was 19 when he attained a professorship. Additionally, Thomas edged out Alia Sabur, who held the record for the youngest female professor since 2008, by a margin of 16 days.

Thomas’s academic path began when he enrolled at Miami Dade College at age 10. He later transferred to Florida International University at 14 and earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering by age 18. His early academic success set the foundation for his current professional trajectory. While he continues to teach online, he is actively pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Miami School of Law.

Looking toward the future, Thomas expects to graduate from law school in 2028. He intends to specialize in intellectual property law, specifically focusing on the intersection of legal practice and STEM pedagogy.