After allegations of manipulation: Kiel University President Simone Fulda resigns

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Simone Fulda, former President of the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel

Photo: Frank Molter / picture alliance / dpa

She is accused of manipulating data for scientific publications - now the President of the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel (CAU), Simone Fulda, is retiring from her position. “It is with responsibility for the university and with a heavy heart that I am taking this step,” Fulda was quoted as saying in a statement from the university on Saturday evening.

The allegations come from an article by the English-language science blog “For Better Science”, which was first reported by the “Kieler Nachrichten”. The medical professor had firmly rejected the allegations.

Fulda has been at the helm of Kiel University since October 2020. Schleswig-Holstein's Science Minister Karin Prien (CDU) expressed great respect for the decision. “In our conversations, she assured me that an audit by the DFG (German Research Foundation) would clear her of all allegations of scientific or ethical misconduct,” says Prien. "Nevertheless, she recognizes the current debate as damaging not only to her personally, but also to the entire university location."

Allegations are currently being investigated

The Chancellor of the CAU, Claudia Ricarda Meyer, expressed extreme regret about Fulda's withdrawal. "We pay her the greatest respect for this decision and thank her very much for her extraordinary commitment over the past few years." With regard to the allegations of alleged data manipulation that are currently being made against Simone Fulda and scientists from other research institutions, the presumption of innocence still applies, emphasized Meyer. These allegations are currently being carefully examined by the responsible institutions in accordance with guidelines of good scientific practice.

Until the presidential office is filled again, an interim executive committee should manage the business of the CAU. According to the information, the committee includes Vice President Catherine Cleophas, the Chancellor and Vice Presidents Markus Hundt, Eckhard Quandt and Ralph Schneider. A focus of the interim executive board's work will be the preparation of follow-up applications for the existing clusters of excellence.

lki/dpa