## Duke University Faces Jury Trial Over Alleged Retaliation Against Researcher Who Reported Sexual Harassment
A federal judge has ruled that a Duke University researcher has presented enough evidence for a jury to decide if the prestigious institution launched a misconduct investigation against her as retaliation for reporting sexual harassment. U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Auld denied Duke's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, finding the timing of the university's actions against immunologist Brahmajothi Mulugu could be seen as retaliatory, forcing the case toward a public trial.

Mulugu, a scientist in Duke's Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, sued the university in 2023. She alleges that after she reported sexual harassment by then-professor Mohamed Bahie Abou-Donia—a report later substantiated by Duke's own Office of Institutional Equity (OIE)—university leaders initiated an "unjustified" research misconduct probe against her. The core legal question is whether this investigation was a legitimate administrative action or a punitive response to her harassment complaint.

The impending jury trial places intense scrutiny on Duke's internal governance and its handling of whistleblowers. A verdict against the university could expose significant liability and damage its reputation for protecting academic integrity and employee rights. This case tests the mechanisms meant to safeguard researchers who report misconduct, highlighting the potential institutional pressures and conflicts that can arise when powerful figures are accused.
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- **Source**: Retraction Watch
- **Sector**: The Office
- **Tags**: academia, sexual harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, legal
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-04-01 01:56:48
- **ID**: 44387
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/44387