 Kaczynski graduated from Harvard University in 1962 , at age 20 , and subsequently enrolled at the University of Michigan , where he earned a PhD in mathematics . Kaczynski 's specialty was a branch of complex analysis known as geometric function theory . His professors at Michigan were impressed with his intellect and drive . " He was an unusual person . He was not like the other graduate students , " said Peter Duren , one of Kaczynski 's math professors at Michigan . " He was much more focused about his work . He had a drive to discover mathematical truth . " " It is not enough to say he was smart , " said George <unk> , another of his Michigan math professors . Kaczynski earned his PhD with his thesis entitled " Boundary Functions " by solving a problem so difficult that even <unk> could not solve it . Maxwell Reade , a retired math professor who served on Kaczynski 's dissertation committee , also commented on his thesis by noting , " I would guess that maybe 10 or 12 men in the country understood or appreciated it . " In 1967 , Kaczynski won the University of Michigan 's Sumner B. Myers Prize , which recognized his dissertation as the school 's best in mathematics that year . While a graduate student at Michigan , he held a National Science Foundation fellowship and taught undergraduates for three years . He also published two articles related to his dissertation in mathematical journals , and four more after leaving Michigan . 
