eU: Ep2 – World’s youngest university professor

This week, we will take a look at another amazing individual, an extraordinary youth who has achieved beyond her peers. Alia Sabur, unlike her peers, earned a B.S. (Bachelor of Science) at a age of 14 with an IQ that is off the chart, then went on completing her M.S. and Ph.D. in the field of Materials Science and Engineering. Like that wasn’t enough, she became the world’s youngest university professor at the age of aged 18 years 362 days, when she was appointed as a full-time faculty Professor at Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea as Research Liaison with Stony Brook University starting from 19 February 2008.

While doing world changing research and experiments on nanotube-based cellular probes for use in medical research, she still finds time in discovering her musical talent. In her spare time, she performs with orchestras as a clarinetist, and has performed also with musicians as diverse as Lang Lang and Smash Mouth. She is very well-rounded not only as a person, but also a musician: she enjoys performing as an orchestral member, chamber musician and soloist equally and is venturing into crossover, jazz and fusion. In addition, she has won numerous artistic awards.

Being a girl of special talents, Alia Sabur lends hands to those in need. In her effort to help the relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, she accepted a temporary position at the Southern University at New Orleans, a historically Black public college that is still operating out of trailers, as a way to give back to a community in need.

Alia Sabur will return to Konkuk University at South Korea May this year, continuing her research on nanotube-based cellular probes.

To learn more about The World’s youngest university professor, visit her website and watch the short video below: