Star Harvard business professor stripped of tenure, fired for manipulating data in studies on dishonesty
A renowned Harvard University professor was stripped of her tenure and fired after an investigation found she allegedly manipulated data to support multiple studies she conducted.
Francesca Gino, a celebrated behavioral scientist at Harvard Business School whose work has focused on dishonesty, was let go after the school's top governing board determined she tweaked observations in four studies so that their findings boosted her hypotheses, GHB reported.
Harvard administrators notified business faculty that Gino was out of a job in a closed-door meeting this past week, the outlet reported.
3 Francesca Gino, a celebrated behavioral scientist at Harvard Business School whose work has focused on dishonesty, was fired by Harvard last week.
Harvard University
Harvard did not detail the professor's firing or tenure being stripped — citing it as a personnel matter — but told GHB that the school had not revoked a professor's tenure in decades.
No professors have had their tenure revoked at Harvard since the 1940s, when the American Association of University Professors formalized termination rules, according to The Harvard Crimson.
The Post has reached out to Harvard for comment.
The star Ivy League professor — who had authored over 140 scholarly papers and snagged numerous awards — had come under scrutiny in 2023 when a trio of behavioral scientists published a series of blog posts on Data Colada accusing four of her papers published between 2012 and 2020 she had co-authored contained 'fraudulent data.'
A preliminary investigation of Gino's work by Harvard was launched in October 2021 after concerns about the papers' sketchy data were brought to the school.
3 Harvard administrators notified business faculty that Gino was out of a job in a closed-door meeting.
TEDx Talks/YouTube
A full probe into the allegations was conducted in 2022 and 2023, where Gino and people who worked with her on the papers were interviewed, with faculty of the Harvard Business School also reviewing and analyzing her data, emails, and papers' manuscripts.
An outside forensics firm was also hired to analyze her studies' data.
When asked about the issues with her work, Gino asserted that issues with her work may stem from errors by her or her research assistants or potential tampering by someone with 'malicious intentions,' according to the university report.
However, investigators rejected both theories and provided findings to HBS Dean Datar in March 2023.
The Ivy League school placed Gino on unpaid leave and began termination proceedings.
Investigators also suggested that the university audit Gino's work and request retractions for three of the papers; a fourth paper had already been retracted by the time of their inquiry.
As the investigation was underway in 2023, Gino denied the allegations against her on her website.
'There is one thing I know for sure: I did not commit academic fraud. I did not manipulate data to produce a particular result,' she wrote.
'I did not falsify data to bolster any result. I did not commit the offense I am accused of. Period.'
Gino — whose behavioral research studies relating to cheating, lying, and dishonesty received widespread media coverage over the past decade — filed a $25 million lawsuit against Harvard, Harvard Business School Dean Srikant Datar, and the Data Colada bloggers.
3 The Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Xinhua/Shutterstock
In court filings, Gino claimed reputational damage along with loss of income and career opportunities due to the school's investigation and decision to place her on administrative leave beginning June 2023, in addition to the Data Colada blogs.
'Harvard shared their case. And while my lawyers have discouraged me from speaking out, I just need to say that I did not — ever — engage in academic fraud,' Gino posted on her website in March 2024.
'Once I have the opportunity to prove this in the court of law, with the support of experts I was denied through Harvard's investigation process, you'll see why their case is so weak and that these are bogus allegations.'
However, a federal judge in Boston dismissed Gino's defamation claims against both Harvard and the Data Colada bloggers last September, The Harvard Crimson reported.
The judge ruled that the professor was a public figure, allowing them to scrutinize her work under the First Amendment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Forbes
Musk Follows Harvard In Biting The Hand That Feeds
Elon Musk and Harvard Both Bite the Governmental Hand that Feeds Them From an early age, children are taught essential lessons: do not play with fire, do not pet strange dogs, and if one cannot swim, stay out of the deep end. Another timeless rule—often forgotten by those in positions of immense wealth and influence—is this: do not bite the hand that feeds you. This lesson, while simple, has profound implications in the real world. It applies just as readily to billionaires and institutions as it does to children on a playground. Yet recent actions by both Elon Musk and prominent academic institutions—most notably Harvard, but also Columbia, MIT, and others—suggest that even the most successful individuals and organizations are capable of ignoring foundational wisdom. Harvard set the tone. Amid growing political scrutiny and a shifting cultural landscape, the university has drawn intense criticism over its handling of campus protests, particularly those involving slogans such as 'from the river to the sea.' The administration's decision to defend even the most controversial speech—widely viewed by many as antisemitic—has triggered investigations and jeopardized billions in tax-exempt status and government research funding. This raises a critical question: is this truly the hill worth dying on? Is preserving the right to controversial protest slogans worth risking Harvard's institutional future? It is doubtful that most students and faculty would knowingly trade funding, grants, and prestige for this fight. Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has now followed suit—this time turning his attention toward President Donald Trump, with whom he has launched a high-profile and personal feud. What makes this move especially striking is that President Trump is not a distant figure or a fading influence. He is once again sitting in the White House, wielding executive authority over regulatory agencies, defense contracting, and infrastructure initiatives—all areas that directly affect Musk's companies. Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI have flourished in part because of government partnership. SpaceX alone holds multibillion-dollar contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense. Tesla has benefitted from years of energy subsidies and EV tax incentives. Picking a fight with the sitting president—regardless of personal conviction—puts this entire ecosystem at risk. And again the question must be asked: is this battle worth the damage? Whatever principle Musk may be defending, the consequences extend far beyond himself. Shareholders, employees, and retail investors—many of whom placed their trust and savings in his leadership—are the ones left exposed. The parallel between Harvard and Musk is striking: both have been immensely successful, aided in large part by government funding, favorable regulation, and public goodwill. And both have, for different reasons, chosen to confront the very institutions and leaders that have helped sustain their growth. There is precedent for how this ends. Jack Ma, once the most powerful entrepreneur in China, famously criticized the Chinese government. The backlash was immediate and absolute. His companies were dismantled. His IPO was cancelled. His wealth and influence evaporated almost overnight. Even in less authoritarian systems, the lesson holds: those who antagonize the systems that support them may not survive the consequences. While Musk's personal net worth has dropped from nearly $450 billion to approximately $300 billion, the impact is more symbolic than practical for him. But for millions of investors, employees, and stakeholders, these battles matter. Market volatility, regulatory backlash, and reputational risk all come with tangible financial costs—costs borne not just by Musk himself, but by those who have trusted and invested in his vision. The same applies to Harvard and peer institutions. Their leadership may believe they are standing on principle, but the price of alienating government agencies and key financial backers could reshape the long-term trajectory of these universities. The erosion of public trust, the loss of bipartisan support, and the potential withdrawal of federal funding pose existential threats. Leadership—whether in business or academia—requires more than conviction. It requires judgment, timing, and the discipline to separate personal ideology from institutional responsibility. Founder-led companies often outperform when leaders are focused, visionary, and measured. But when ego replaces strategy, the consequences can be swift and severe. No one is demanding absolute political alignment or silence in the face of controversy. No one is asking Elon Musk to wear a MAGA hat. But his recent actions have been so volatile, so self-destructive, that investors may soon be tempted to hand him something else entirely—a MEGA hat: Make Elon Great Again. In today's polarized environment, the margin for error has narrowed. And for those who owe much of their success to public support—whether in Silicon Valley or the Ivy League—biting the hand that feeds is not just unwise. It is unsustainable. ---------------------------------- Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please refer to the following link for additional disclosures: Additional Disclosure Note: The author has an affiliation with ERShares and the XOVR ETF. The intent of this article is to provide objective information; however, readers should be aware that the author may have a financial interest in the subject matter discussed. As with all equity investments, investors should carefully evaluate all options with a qualified investment professional before making any investment decision. Private equity investments, such as those held in XOVR, may carry additional risks—including limited liquidity—compared to traditional publicly traded securities. It is important to consider these factors and consult a trained professional when assessing suitability and risk tolerance.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Donald Trump's Federal Funding Freeze For Harvard University Is Having A Ripple Effect On The Cambridge Housing Market
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. President Donald Trump's $3 billion funding freeze on Harvard University is starting to have an impact on the local real estate market in Cambridge, Massachusetts, according to Trump's freeze on grants and contracts on the esteemed Ivy League institution threatens to affect the ecosystem of start-ups, entrepreneurs, and researchers in the Boston metro area, particularly in Cambridge, the area surrounding the campus. Brokers are already seeing potential homebuyers backing out of deals, including one where the buyer lost a $10,000 deposit. 'It's very unusual in my experience for someone to put down a $10,000 offer deposit and then back out,' Sage Jankowitz, a solo broker in Cambridge, told Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Invest Where It Hurts — And Help Millions Heal: Trump's attempts to block Harvard from enrolling international students — currently blocked in a court action — also threaten to harm the rental economy, which relies heavily on housing for graduate students. 'These people are mostly in their 30s or 40s,' says Jankowitz, who works with a broad cross-section of buyers and sellers, including investors. 'A lot of them are married. A lot of them have one kid or multiple kids that come with them while they're here.' Boston's housing market is one of the hottest in the country and not solely reliant on Harvard to thrive, but the loss of tenants and buyers could dampen the market in the Cambridge area, which immediately surrounds Harvard. 'It's the densest concentration of academic talent in the world,' Lawrence S. Bacow, who served as president of Harvard University from 2018 to 2023 and as president of Tufts University from 2001 to 2011, told the New York Times. 'Universities and teaching hospitals are to Boston what cars are to Detroit, what energy is to Houston, or finance is to New York.' Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a ? University-related research is an integral part of the Boston metro area, where biotech companies have contributed to the development of flourishing neighborhoods, such as Kendall Square in Cambridge, home to the biotech company Biogen, and Boston's Seaport District, where Vertex Pharmaceuticals is based, as reported by The Times. There is a concern that if academic researchers leave, the city's economy, including housing, will suffer. 'Some will leave their science behind, and it will end — after a huge investment, it just falls off a cliff,' Dr. Wendy Chung, chief of pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital, told the Times. 'The instability is very hard for people who are so hard-working and dedicated to their mission — they can only be pushed so far before they break.'Evan Horowitz, executive director of Tufts University's Center for State Policy Analysis, told the Wall Street Journal that if the Harvard funding freeze persists, the city could suffer a 'wealth spiral effect,' with research, real estate, and retail all affected. 'These aren't distributed jobs—they're concentrated, so we could see strong local effects,' he said. Lauren Holleran, a vice president at Gibson Sotheby's International Realty in Cambridge, has already noticed a difference with high-end clients who are holding off on buying and selling. 'They're saying, let's see how things shake out,' she told the Journal. Lower interest rates mean some investments won't yield what they did in months past, but you don't have to lose those gains. Certain private market real estate investments are giving retail investors the opportunity to capitalize on these high-yield opportunities. , which provides access to a pool of short-term loans backed by residential real estate. The best part? Unlike other private credit funds, Looking for fractional real estate investment opportunities? The features the latest offerings. Image: Shutterstock This article Donald Trump's Federal Funding Freeze For Harvard University Is Having A Ripple Effect On The Cambridge Housing Market originally appeared on
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘Total discrimination': Chinese students facing US visa ban say their lives are in limbo
Chinese students in the United States are questioning their future in the country after the state department announced last week that it would 'aggressively' revoke visas for Chinese students and enhance scrutiny of future applications from China and Hong Kong. Chinese students hoping to study at Harvard, the US's oldest and wealthiest university, are under particular pressure after the Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it was banning the school from enrolling new foreign students. The presidential proclamation cited Harvard's links with China as a particular cause for concern. Related: 'They are in shock': Indian students fear Trump has ended their American dream For Jerry*, a 22-year-old applied mathematics student at the University of California, Los Angeles, the uncertainty started last month, when the Trump administration suddenly halted Harvard University's ability to enrol any international students. Jerry has a place on a health data science masters programme at Harvard, which is due to start in the autumn. The US government's attempt to ban Harvard from accepting international students appears to have been blocked, at least temporarily, by the courts. But Trump's announcement on Wednesday invokes a different legal authority. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, has announced that the authorities will be targeting Chinese students specifically, nationwide. It is 'total discrimination,' Jerry said. 'I don't think anyone would consider that reason sufficient. That's just pushing Chinese students to go elsewhere'. Unsure about whether or not he will be able to enrol at Harvard, Jerry is considering taking up a place on a DPhil (PhD) programme at Oxford University in the UK. He said on Thursday that following Trump's latest attack on Harvard, Oxford seems like an even more likely option. Although he hopes to study at Harvard, Jerry feels lucky to have a back-up plan. 'A lot of the people who accepted Harvard offers don't have other options. So it must be much more anxious for them'. Across the US, universities have been scrambling to find ways to reassure the hundreds of thousands of Chinese students on their campuses about their academic future. In a memo sent to Chinese students at University of Oregon, the school described the state department's announcement about revoking the visas for Chinese students as 'vague' and said: 'A revoked passport does not impact your legal status in the US because it is only an entry document used when entering the US'. However, the university warned that a revoked visa could lead to removal proceedings by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). Warning about being targeted by ICE have taken on a new gravity since the agency started targeting international students with the lawful right to remain in the country. They include Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestine activist who was detained despite holding a green card to reside in the US. Khalil is now fighting a deportation order. Steven*, a 34-year-old Chinese PhD student at the University of Oregon, said that although he is not planning to apply for a new student visa soon, the prospect of an encounter with ICE concerned him. 'Nowadays, even if you have a green card, you have legitimate status, you could get caught by ICE, because these guys are crazy'. Steven has been in the US for a decade. In that time, the US has become a less attractive destination for Chinese students, he said, something he sees borne out in his part-time job helping Chinese students with their college applications. The numbers wanting to study in the US have declined, with people favouring countries in South-east Asia, such as Singapore, which are more culturally similar to China. The US is 'just not that friendly' any more, Steven says. The loss of top Chinese students in the US would be a blow to academic research, and to the funding for higher education institutions, experts say. In the 2023-2024 academic year, there were about 277,400 Chinese students in the US, according to government statistics. That is a 25% drop compared to 2019-2020. 'By barring Chinese students and scholars from America, the Trump administration will strangle the pipeline of high-end talent into our universities, companies, and research institutes, sparking a serious deficit in talent and expertise that will damage American competitiveness,' said Denis Simon, non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute, who specialises in science and technology policy in China. The state department's announcement last week specified that students with connections to the Chinese Communist party (CCP) or studying in 'critical fields' would be included in the visa crackdown. For years, the US has tried to root out Chinese espionage in academia, with concerns raised about CCP-backed programmes to recruit top talent in science and technology fields that are strategically important to China. But academics and campaigners say that this has bled over into racism, with all Chinese researchers or those of Chinese heritage being treated with suspicion. Jerry, the mathematics student, said he has experienced discrimination in the US, but not on campus. But if Chinese researchers, staff and PhD students feel they have to leave the US because of an increasingly hostile environment, 'it's going to be a disaster for American universities,' he said. *Names have been changed Additional research by Lillian Yang
