Alexandra Samuels

The University of Texas at Austin

A biologist at the University of Chicago has resigned after school officials found that he violated the university’s sexual misconduct policy, the The New York Times reported this week.

According to an investigation letter received by the Times, molecular biologist Jason Lieb reportedly made unwelcome sexual advances to several young women during an off-campus retreat for graduate students.

The letter also says he “engaged in sexual activity with a student who was ‘incapacitated due to alcohol and therefore could not consent.’”

In an emailed statement to USA Today College, the school said:



In November, the University of Chicago received reports that a faculty member had engaged in inappropriate behavior during a private party, which followed an off-campus meeting organized by a University department. The University immediately began an investigation into the allegations. The faculty member promptly went on a leave of absence and was on leave throughout the process.

Following a thorough investigation, the University’s Title IX Coordinator concluded in January that the faculty member’s conduct violated the University’s Policy on Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct. The Title IX Coordinator reported her findings and conclusions to the faculty member’s department chair, dean, and the Provost of the University, and recommended that the University terminate the faculty member’s employment. The faculty member resigned before the disciplinary process was concluded. The faculty member is no longer employed by the University. The department and those affected by the case were notified of the investigation and its outcome. While we are refraining from publicly releasing the name of the faculty member to protect those who participated in the investigation, the findings, conclusions and recommendations will be part of the faculty member’s employment record at the University.

Sexual harassment and sexual misconduct are forms of sex discrimination that violate the standards of our community and will not be tolerated by the University of Chicago. The University provides confidential counseling services and other support for members of our community who experience sexual misconduct. As part of its commitment to prevent sexual misconduct, the University is already in the process of providing increased training on related issues to faculty members, graduate students, undergraduates, and staff members.

The Times also reported that before Lieb was hired, the school received warning signs from other universities. Members of the Chicago faculty reportedly received anonymous emails warning that Lieb had been accused of sexual harassment while working at both Princeton and the University of North Carolina and both schools had begun investigations, the paper reported.

In regards to these allegations, however, the school says Lieb told the university about the accusations and the school was informed that the institution in question did not find Lieb had violated any policies on sexual misconduct. Despite this assurance, Chicago required Lieb to undergo training before starting.

Lieb resigned last month before the school took any action.



Alexandra Samuels is a student at the University of Texas at Austin and a USA TODAY College breaking news correspondent.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.