Alia Sabur Guinness World Record Holder for Youngest Professor Date of Birth: 22.02.1989 Country: USA

1. Biography of Alia Sabur
2. Early Education and Talents
3. Achievements and Records
4. Contributions and Challenges
5. Continuing Legacy

Biography of Alia Sabur

Alia Sabur was born in 1989 in New York City. Her mother, Julie Sabur, worked as a reporter for News12 Long Island, and her father, Mohammed Sabur, is of Pakistani descent. At the age of 2, Alia showed signs of giftedness, with an IQ test revealing her mental development to be on par with that of a first-grader.

Early Education and Talents

Alia's exceptional abilities continued to shine as she began her formal education. By the age of 10, she had completed elementary school and became a student at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Despite her academic pursuits, Alia also demonstrated remarkable talent in music, mastering the clarinet at a young age. Contrary to popular belief, she excelled in sports as well, earning a black belt in taekwondo at the age of 9.

Achievements and Records

Alia graduated from university at the age of 14, becoming the youngest bachelor's degree recipient in the United States. Her education did not stop there, as she went on to pursue a master's degree at Drexel University, which she completed in 2006.

Just three days before her 19th birthday, on February 19, 2008, Alia Sabur was appointed as a professor at Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea. Although her contract was only for one year, it was enough for her to secure the record for being the youngest professor in the world, as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Contributions and Challenges

After her tenure in Korea, Alia returned to New York, where she dedicated herself to scientific research, including medical studies. She worked on a method for measuring blood sugar without the need for a blood sample, which could greatly improve the lives of individuals with diabetes.

In 2008, Alia also engaged in legal proceedings against the leadership of Drexel University, accusing them of fraud while pursuing her doctoral degree. She alleged that her academic supervisors deliberately hindered her defense and used others' ideas and research for their personal work, as well as misappropriated educational grants. This experience marked her first disillusionment with the scientific world.

Continuing Legacy

Despite these challenges, Alia Sabur remains the youngest professor in the world, surpassing Colin Maclaurin, who held the record since 1717. While Colin was 19 years old when he obtained his professorship, Alia achieved the feat just three days after turning 19.

In 2010, Alia made several appearances on national television, including CNN and Fox News, where she shared her ideas for addressing the consequences of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.