16-Year-Old Earns Ph.D., Becomes Youngest in U.S. History, University Says

Mike Wimmer has been breaking academic records for years—and now, at just 16, he’s made history once again.

After graduating high school and earning an associate’s degree at age 12, then completing a bachelor’s degree by 14, Wimmer has now received a Ph.D. from Carolina University, along with two master’s degrees. According to the university, he’s the youngest person in U.S. history to achieve a doctorate.

“I’m super excited to have gotten to this point,” Wimmer told FOX Local.

His Ph.D. dissertation focused on innovation—an area close to his heart. “I’ve always wanted to solve problems in new ways that haven’t been tried before,” he explained.

To support his research, Wimmer developed a commercially viable underwater vehicle designed to help control the invasive lionfish population in the Atlantic. His invention, the Reef Sweeper, uses an AI system he created, named ALFREDD, to identify, capture, and remove lionfish. The autonomous vehicle operates underwater, resurfaces to unload once full, and then returns to continue the process.

Wimmer unveiled the Reef Sweeper while serving as a guest speaker during Carolina University’s graduation ceremony on May 3. He is collaborating with Atlantic Lionshare Ltd. to deploy the invention on a broader ecological scale.

In addition to completing his doctorate, Wimmer is also the founder and CEO of three companies: Next Era Innovations, Insta Grade AI, and Reflect Social.

Now that school is behind him—at least for the moment—he’s planning to enjoy a well-earned break. “I’m still 16, so I’m going to hang out by the pool, take a Disney Cruise maybe… just do normal stuff,” said Wimmer, who recently got his driver’s license and plans to cruise around in his Corvette.

Sources: This article is based on an April 30, 2025, interview with FOX Local, Carolina University’s graduation ceremony (May 3, 2025), and Atlantic Lionshare Ltd.’s website.