At an age when most teenagers are still in secondary school, Laurent Simons has already earned a PhD in quantum physics. The Belgian researcher completed his doctorate at the University of Antwerp at just 15 years old, and says the achievement is only a stepping stone toward a much bigger ambition: extending human life and health by enhancing biology, as reported by Earth.com.
University records confirm that Simons publicly defended his thesis on November 17, 2025. Belgian media describe him as the youngest person in the country to receive a doctorate, and his academic timeline is undeniably unusual. He finished high school at eight and completed a three-year bachelor’s degree in just eighteen months, moving rapidly through milestones that normally take decades.
Simons’ PhD research focused on Bose polarons, a topic deep within the world of quantum many-body physics. In simple terms, his work studied how a single particle behaves when immersed in an exotic quantum environment such as a superfluid or a supersolid. Supersolids are especially strange states of matter, combining the rigid structure of a crystal with the frictionless flow of a superfluid. These are not just theoretical ideas anymore; experiments with ultracold atoms have shown such states can exist under carefully controlled conditions.
His thesis used a mathematical approach known as a variational method, which allows physicists to model extremely complex systems without needing exact solutions. The work also proposed how experimentalists could detect these effects using light absorption, creating measurable signals tied to the motion of particles inside a supersolid. While highly theoretical, this kind of research helps test and refine our understanding of quantum matter.
Despite the headlines, Simons says physics itself is not his final destination. He has spoken openly about wanting to focus on medicine rather than jumping into high-profile technology roles. His parents have reportedly declined early offers from companies in the United States and China, prioritizing structured training and ethical oversight over publicity or fast money.
Shortly after defending his PhD, Simons returned to Munich to begin a second doctorate, this time in medical science with a focus on artificial intelligence. The idea is to apply the rigor of physics and data-driven AI to biological problems, such as disease detection and aging. When Simons talks about “creating superhumans,” he frames it less as science fiction and more as extending healthy lifespan and improving quality of life.
That path is far more constrained than viral headlines suggest. Advances in medicine require years of clinical validation, careful safety checks, and collaboration across many disciplines. AI models must be tested against bias and overfitting, and biological systems rarely behave as cleanly as equations on a chalkboard.
Claims about the youngest PhD holders can be hard to compare globally, since education systems vary widely. What is clear in this case is the documented research trail, the official university defense, and peer-reviewed work published in Physical Review X.
For now, Simons’ story is less about mythical immortality and more about a rare combination of speed, focus, and long-term ambition. Whether he succeeds will depend not on how fast he moved through degrees, but on how carefully his ideas translate from theory into real, measurable benefits for human health.
The study is published in Physical Review X.
