Harvard University has revoked the tenure of Francesca Gino, a professor at Harvard Business School, following serious allegations of data fraud that date back several years. A spokesperson confirmed her termination, while Gino had previously been placed on administrative leave in 2023 after multiple claims that she falsified research data. The specifics of the allegations have not been disclosed, as Harvard typically does not comment on personnel issues. This incident is particularly significant, as no Harvard professor is known to have lost tenure since the 1940s.
Gino, who began her tenure at Harvard Business School in 2010, has been a notable figure in research on honesty and ethics. She held various positions, including head of the Negotiations, Organizations and Markets Unit from 2018 to 2021. Her work received widespread media attention, but scrutiny intensified when three other researchers from Data Colada investigated her studies and reported data irregularities in 2021.
Following an 18-month internal investigation, Gino was found responsible for “research misconduct” and subsequently put on unpaid leave. She responded with a lawsuit claiming that Harvard’s investigation process was flawed and that she suffered disciplinary actions inconsistent with the university’s tenure policies. A federal judge dismissed some defamation claims from her lawsuit but allowed others related to contractual breaches to proceed.
In March 2024, Gino publicly expressed her innocence via a dedicated website, stating she never engaged in fraud and that she was denied a fair opportunity to defend herself. She remains adamant that the allegations against her are baseless.
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