Harvard Revokes Francesca Gino’s Tenure in Unprecedented Research Misconduct Case

CAMBRIDGE, MA — May 27, 2025 Harvard University has officially revoked the tenure of Francesca Gino, a prominent behavioral scientist at Harvard Business School, marking a historic and controversial first in the university’s modern history. The decision follows nearly a year of internal investigation into allegations of data falsification across multiple published studies.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the revocation was finalized after Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences reviewed evidence suggesting Gino manipulated data in at least four academic papers. Gino, who gained recognition for her research on dishonesty and ethics, has denied the allegations and filed a $25 million defamation lawsuit against Harvard and blog site Data Colada, which originally raised concerns about irregularities in her work.

The university’s move to rescind tenure—a rare and severe disciplinary action—underscores the growing scrutiny around research integrity in academia. Harvard stated it followed due process, including external reviews and opportunities for Gino to respond.

Scholars and academic watchdogs see the case as a watershed moment. “It’s a signal that even the most high-profile faculty aren’t immune to accountability,” said Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch. Others have expressed concern about the implications for academic freedom and the pressure this may place on scholars conducting high-impact research.

The outcome could have long-lasting effects on how institutions investigate and respond to allegations of research misconduct—especially in an era of increased transparency, digital forensics, and open-access scrutiny.

*Sources:
*https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/harvard-tenure-revoked-francesca-gino-research-misconduct