Chicago professor resigns amid accusations of sexual misconduct at several universities

A high-ranking molecular biologist at the University of Chicago has resigned following accusations of sexual assault, not long after he moved from two other universities for similar reports.

The resignation comes amid calls for universities to be more transparent about their sexual harassment policies, where women only make up one quarter of senior roles.

Dr Jason Lieb allegedly made unwelcome sexual moves towards several female Chicago graduate students at a faculty retreat off-campus. His behaviour reportedly became well known as he made his moves at a crowded party attended by staff and students.

He also engaged in sexual activity with a student who was “incapacitated due to alcohol and therefore could not consent” according to a letter obtained by The New York Times.

“In light of the severity and pervasiveness of Professor Lieb’s conduct, and the broad, negative impact the conduct has had on the educational and work environment of students, faculty and staff, I recommend that the university terminate Professor Lieb’s academic appointment,” reads the letter, signed by Sarah Wake, assistant provost and director of the office for equal opportunity programs.

Dr Lieb resigned before the university took action.

The professor has received millions of dollars in federal grants over the last 10 years, and he was honoured for his research at the local and national level.

But there were warning signs. Before he was hired in Chicago, he was accused of sexual harassment at previous jobs at Princeton and the University of North Carolina in an anonymous email.

Dr Lieb had resigned from Princeton University just seven months after he moved from the University of North Carolina.

He said during his interview with the University of Chicago that Princeton had accused him of not informing them about a complaint of "unwanted contact" filed against him at North Carolina. He said he had seen no reason to inform them as the investigation had not come up with any supporting evidence.

The professor also admitted to having a short affair with one of his graduate students while he taught at the University of North Carolina.

In a faculty publication in 2012 he wrote that Chapel Hill, California, was “a great place for my family and my career.”

Peggy Mason, professor of neurobiology at the University of Chicago, wrote in a blog on Wednesday: “Why was Mr Lieb hired to begin with?”

“In the end, and admittedly greatly aided by hindsight, I think that the Department of Human Genetics’s decision to hire Mr Lieb was a mistake. Character matters. I sincerely hope and believe, lesson learned,” she added.

Cases of prominent male scientists harassing female students have happened at the University of California, Berkeley, and the California Institute of Technology and the University of Arizona.

Representative Jackie Speier, Democrat of California, is considering introducing legislation to require schools to report any sexual harassment record by staff when they move to a new role.

"Federal agencies that fund and support science must take an active role in creating an environment where sexism is not tolerated and scientists are free to focus on research," she wrote in a Facebook post.