An American engineering prodigy has officially been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest male professor, after being appointed to teach at a college at just 18 years and 346 days old.
Nathan Thomas, from Florida, was hired as an engineering professor at Miami Dade College in August 2023. Guinness World Records confirmed the achievement on July 23, 2026, saying he had broken a record that had stood for 306 years.
Born into a family of engineers in 2004, Thomas displayed exceptional talent from an early age. At just 10 years old, he enrolled at Miami Dade College while simultaneously attending secondary school.
By the age of 14, he had completed an associate degree in mathematics before transferring to Florida International University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering by the age of 18.
After graduating, Thomas returned to his former college to teach “C for Engineers”, becoming one of the youngest university lecturers in history.
His appointment surpassed the previous record held by Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin, who became a professor at the age of 19 in 1717.
Thomas was also 16 days younger than Alia Sabur, who was recognised as the world’s youngest female professor when she was appointed at 18 years and 362 days old in 2008.
Despite being younger than some of his own students, Thomas said age has never been an issue in the classroom.
He believes that university education is centred on learning, where mutual respect and the sharing of knowledge matter far more than age.
Now 21 years old, Thomas continues to teach online engineering courses while pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD) degree at the University of Miami School of Law, with graduation expected in 2028.
He hopes to build a career in intellectual property law, combining his engineering expertise with legal training to specialise in technology-related legal issues.
