Harvard University has officially terminated Francesca Gino, a prominent professor at Harvard Business School, after an internal investigation found she had falsified data in multiple studies focused on ethical behavior.
The university also stripped Gino of her tenure, a rare move signaling the seriousness of the findings. Her research, widely cited in the field of behavioral science, came under scrutiny after irregularities were identified in a 2012 study. Further examination uncovered manipulated data across several academic publications.
Gino was placed on unpaid leave in 2023, and her prestigious professorship was revoked. She denied all allegations and responded with a $25 million lawsuit against Harvard and the data researchers who flagged the inconsistencies, accusing them of defamation and bias. A federal court dismissed the defamation claim but allowed other parts of the lawsuit to proceed.
The case has intensified debate around academic transparency and the mechanisms institutions use to maintain integrity in scholarly research. Harvard has not released additional details, citing confidentiality policies.