While most teens were busy deciding what to wear to prom or perfecting their latest TikTok, Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski was doing something a little different—building an actual airplane.
Born in Chicago in 1993, Sabrina’s passion for science and engineering wasn’t just a childhood phase—it was her compass. At just 14 years old, she wasn’t assembling model kits or watching YouTube tutorials. She was deep in her garage, constructing a fully functional single-engine aircraft, hand-in-hand with her father, an electrical engineer who nurtured her curiosity.
And at 16, she took that very plane to the skies—flying solo in a craft she had built herself. That feat made her one of the youngest people in U.S. history to fly a self-built airplane. But more than a headline, it was the launching pad for a life devoted to unlocking the universe’s deepest mysteries.
The MIT Years: A Mind Built for More
After her aviation milestone, Sabrina aimed even higher—the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Though she was initially waitlisted, MIT soon recognized her brilliance and admitted her.
She didn’t just survive at MIT—she soared. Graduating in just three years with a near-perfect GPA, Sabrina made waves in theoretical physics, specifically in the fields of quantum gravity and high-energy physics. She wasn’t just studying the universe—she was helping redefine it.
Harvard, Hawking, and the Edge of the Cosmos
Next stop? Harvard University, where she pursued a Ph.D. focused on the mind-bending frontiers of spacetime and gravity. Her groundbreaking research caught the attention of leading physicists—including associates of Stephen Hawking—and she received job offers from elite organizations like NASA and Blue Origin.
Yet Sabrina isn’t interested in fame. She avoids social media entirely and keeps her online presence limited to her modest website, PhysicsGirl.com, where she simply showcases her academic work. No frills, just physics—a true testament to her quiet intensity and unwavering focus.
More Than “The Next Einstein”
Media outlets have labeled her “the next Einstein,” but Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski isn’t chasing comparisons—she’s carving her own path.
From garage tinkerer to Harvard physicist, her story is a beacon for young dreamers everywhere. In a world drowning in noise, Sabrina stands out not by shouting—but by thinking deeply.
She reminds us that age, background, and gender are not barriers—they’re just context. What matters most is curiosity, grit, and the courage to chase the impossible.
Final Thoughts: A Sky with No Limit
Sabrina’s journey isn’t just impressive—it’s transformational. She proves that ambition doesn’t need a spotlight, and genius doesn’t always wear a cape. Whether you’re dreaming of flight or decoding the universe, her life says it loud and clear:
Dare to build. Dare to ask questions. And never believe the sky is the limit—because for some, it’s just the beginning.