Satyam Kumar, the son of a modest farmer from Bihar, remains one of India’s most celebrated prodigies, having shattered academic records by becoming the youngest person to crack the notoriously difficult Indian Institute of Technology-Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) at the age of just 13.

His incredible journey, which began in the rural fields of Bhojpur district and led him to the esteemed corridors of IIT Kanpur, culminated in a prestigious career track that included a stint with US tech giant Apple and a Ph.D. in a cutting-edge field.

Born in the small village of Bakhorapur in Bihar, Satyam’s exceptional intelligence was evident early on. Despite his family’s poor economic background and his father, Sidhnath Singh, being a farmer with limited formal education, his talent was nurtured.

• First Attempt at 12: Satyam first cleared the IIT-JEE in 2012 at the age of 12, securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 8,137. Dissatisfied with the lower rank, he chose to appear for the exam again.
• Record-Breaking Feat at 13: In 2013, he retook the exam, securing an impressive AIR of 670. This achievement at age 13 made him the youngest IITian in the history of the country, breaking the previous record.
• IIT Kanpur: He secured admission to the highly regarded BTech-MTech Dual Degree program in Electrical Engineering at IIT Kanpur, where he graduated in 2018.

Satyam’s ambition did not stop at the IIT. He set his sights on the global technology landscape, moving to the United States for higher studies.

• Ph.D. at 24: He completed his Ph.D. in the specialized field of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) from the University of Texas at Austin, achieving this advanced degree by the remarkably young age of 24.
• The Apple Connection: His stellar academic performance led to internships at leading tech companies. Most notably, he worked as a Machine Learning Intern at Apple, showcasing his expertise in advanced artificial intelligence and research.
• Current Role: According to his professional profile, Satyam Kumar is currently working as a Machine Learning Systems Research Engineer at Texas Instruments in the United States, continuing his work at the forefront of the tech industry.

While currently excelling in the US tech sphere, Satyam has often spoken about his desire to give back to his roots. In an old interview, he expressed an aspiration to create a social platform like Facebook and, more importantly, to return to his home district in Bihar to teach and inspire children from underprivileged backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of education as a tool for massive change.

Satyam Kumar’s journey is a powerful testament that talent, hard work, and relentless determination can overcome the biggest socioeconomic barriers, charting a course from a small village in India to the zenith of global technology and research.