Leiden University wants to fire professor for misconduct

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NOS News•today, 10:01 PM

Once again, Leiden University wants a professor dismissal for misconduct. The professor, together with his or her partner, who is also a former scientist at the university, has been guilty of undesirable and transgressive behavior for years, the university reports after an investigation.

Nineteen people filed a complaint about the professor’s behavior at the end of last year. The university subsequently set up an independent investigative committee. At the start of the investigation, the professor was suspended and access to the university was denied, including the partner.

Based on the results of the investigation, the university is now going to the subdistrict court to have the academic’s contract terminated as quickly as possible. If the judge approves the request, the scientist may no longer call himself a professor and no longer supervise PhD students.

It has not been announced who it concerns and at which faculty the professor teaches. The identity of the partner is also not known.

According to the Leiden University Weekly Mare, the abuse of power and manipulation took place between 1990 and 2023. According to the university, this caused a culture of fear among employees who were largely dependent on the professor and the partner, writes Omroep West.

Chairman Annetje Ottow of the university’s Executive Board is shocked. “This has seriously damaged many people and that affects us deeply. Our first concern concerns the reporters. Partly in view of the fact that the professor in question has held administrative positions at the faculty in the past, it took a lot of courage to step forward. “

In addition to the bullying behavior, the professor is also said to have demanded research data and research material from employees. “This behavior is considered a violation of academic integrity,” the university said.

Eighteen months ago, Leiden University also suspended a professor due to “intimidating and undesirable behavior”. This concerned astronomer Tim de Zeeuw, who was appointed professor of theoretical astronomy at the university in 1991. The professor’s inappropriate behavior came to light after several employees filed complaints about him with the dean.

The university has commissioned an investigation into the abuses. The report with the recommendations of the investigative committee will be published on May 13.