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The Belgian teenage scientist, who finished high school at 8 and earned a doctorate in quantum physics at 15, is expected to join Bar-Ilan University research labs, driven by an ambition to extend human life and an admiration for Israeli science

At an age when most teenagers are preparing for their high school exams, 16-year-old Belgian prodigy Laurent Simons has already earned a doctorate in quantum physics, pursued advanced medical research and contributed to a scientific paper published in the prestigious journal Nature. Now, he is preparing to come to Israel to join research laboratories at Bar-Ilan University.

Simons, whose extraordinary academic progress has attracted international attention, has long dreamed of using science to extend human life. After completing his doctorate in quantum physics, he began pursuing a second PhD in medical science, bringing him closer to that ambition.

Born in Ostend, Belgium, Simons completed primary school around the age of six and graduated from high school at just eight. He went on to study electrical engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, where his studies ended in 2019, before moving to the University of Antwerp to pursue physics.

By the age of 11, he had earned his bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s degree at 12. In 2026, his name appeared among the coauthors of a research paper published in Nature, marking another milestone in his unusually rapid academic career.

Simons has also maintained a longstanding relationship with the Israeli Embassy in Belgium. Last week, he was hosted at the home of Israel’s ambassador to Belgium, David Saranga.

Following the meeting, Saranga shared a message emphasizing that Israel continues to have supporters across Belgian society, despite the often critical public discourse surrounding the country.

“Contrary to the impression that has been created, Israel has many friends in Belgium,” Saranga wrote. “They come from all parts of society, different religions, backgrounds and age groups. One of them is Laurent Simons. These are voices that are also important to recognize and make heard.”

According to Saranga, Simons chose Israel because of the high academic standards in the scientific fields that interest him, despite neither he nor his parents having any connection to Judaism.

“It’s a combination of genuine love for Israel and admiration for scientific research,” Saranga explained.