Seattle, WA – A shocking case of academic dishonesty has rocked the University of Washington, with allegations that a professor falsified documentation provided to the National Science Foundation associated with a grant that UW received from the Foundation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University have settled claims that the professor submitted false documents regarding the grant to the National Science Foundation between August 2018 and September 2019.
The grant was part of the highly competitive “Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future” program. The allegations against the professor are a stark reminder of the importance of academic integrity and the consequences of violating it.
According to settlement documents, the principal investigator on the grant submitted false documents regarding the grant to the National Science Foundation. The University will pay the government $801,756 to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act, which includes restitution and a penalty.
“Academic integrity demands accurate reports to grant funders,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas Brown. “This is an expensive, but critical, lesson that researchers must accurately report who worked on a project, as well as the results from their research.”
The National Science Foundation Office of Inspector General is committed to ensuring the integrity of our grant recipients by holding accountable those who choose to engage in false claims and misrepresentation schemes. We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in pursuing this matter and will continue to vigorously pursue oversight of taxpayer funds devoted to scientific research,” said Inspector General Allison Lerner.
The investigation began with a whistleblower complaint regarding work performed under the grant and the grant application. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Burns and Kayla Stahman handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The University of Washington’s actions are a serious breach of trust and a betrayal of the public’s faith in the institution. The settlement is a necessary step towards restoring that trust and ensuring that the University adheres to the highest standards of academic integrity.
The case serves as a reminder that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will vigorously pursue those who engage in academic dishonesty and other forms of misconduct. The University of Washington must now face the consequences of its actions and work towards regaining the trust of the public and the scientific community.
The University of Washington, a public research university, has been ordered to pay $801,756 to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act.
Defendant: University of Washington, exact criminal charges: Falsifying Grant Application, City and state: Seattle, WA, Exact date: N/A, Sentence or outcome: Paid $801,756 to resolve allegations.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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