Tennessee Tech professors 'begging' leaders to disavow contested emissions research

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Questionable research at Tennessee Tech University has put the institution's policies and top leaders under scrutiny, and faculty members worry that a weak response could do lasting damage to the university's reputation.

Professors have denounced the results of a $39,000 study commissioned by Fitzgerald Glider Kits, a Byrdstown-based trucking company that makes rebuilt diesel engines. The findings suggested those engines do not emit more harmful emissions than new engines.

The study, summarized in a June letter to U.S. Rep. Diane Black that was signed by university President Phil Oldham, was used to lobby to keep a measure that allows rebuilt diesel engines used in glider kits to be exempt from modern federal emissions rules.

Glider kits are trucks in which engines are installed later, rather than in the original factory.

The problem, as reported Thursday in The New York Times, is that the Tennessee Tech research is contradicted by an Environmental Protection Agency analysis that found emissions from glider kits are much more dangerous than emissions from new engines.

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One professor says he risked 'professional suicide' in plea for action

Oldham has ordered an internal investigation based on growing faculty outrage.

“This one has been called into some question, and so we’re following university policy to look into it based on concerns that have been expressed,” he said during a Thursday interview at the Cookeville campus. “Nothing has come to my attention at this point that concerns me, but the fact that other people have raised concerns warrants us to take a look at it.”

But many professors, including members of the faculty senate, have demanded a more aggressive effort to distance the university from what they say is embarrassing research.

On Friday, Darrell Hoy, the interim dean of the College of Engineering, described making the case that Oldham should withdraw all support for the study until the internal investigation was complete.

In a letter to the head of the faculty senate, Hoy recalled "urging (almost begging) that the Administration immediately suspend support for the project" during a Jan. 23 meeting.

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"I realize this memo and the facts that I have brought to light may be a 'professional suicide' with regard to my position as Interim Dean," Hoy wrote. "However, if that is what it takes to help force a more active response from the University and stop the damage to the College, I do it willingly and without hesitation."

A January meeting of the faculty senate featured protracted debate over the Fitzgerald research and brought systemic concerns to the surface.

"Everything today encapsulates our concerns of the past few years," minutes from the meeting state. "This was almost predictable.

"There is no emphasis on overall leadership in this project."

Ben Mohr, a professor and chair of the university's Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, said he served as the original principal investigator in the Fitzgerald project but withdrew.

"His concerns are that a lot of this was done while he was PI, but he not able to review data and report before it was sent to others," according to a summary of Mohr's comments in the minutes.

Tom Brewer, the university's associate vice president for strategic research initiatives, was on hand at the meeting to address the controversy.

"Two customers, Fitzgerald and the EPA, were satisfied that we answered their questions and did what they wanted us to do for them," Brewer said, according to the minutes. "Neither customer, Fitzgerald nor the EPA, said the work was flawed or shoddy."

In a resolution passed at the meeting, the faculty senate demanded Brewer's suspension until the investigation is complete. Oldham said in an email to faculty no suspensions have been made as part of the investigation.

Expert says report 'reads more like an advertisement'

A leading expert in research ethics and conflicts of interest said the Fitzgerald report raises a number of red flags.

“This reads more like an advertisement,” said Michigan State University philosophy professor Debra Nails, who has served on her university’s conflict of interest committee. “Why is the principal investigator not signing this if it is the principal investigator’s research? Why is there no disclosure that this research is funded by Fitzgerald?”

Questions about conflicts of interest are compounded by the fact that Tennessee Tech and Fitzgerald announced a partnership in August that would allow the university to house a program in a company building on Fitzgerald's property.

Fitzgerald did not respond to messages seeking a comment on the Tennessee Tech research or partnership.

Oldham said the partnership was not connected with the research project. He repeatedly defended the study and the protocol it followed during the Thursday interview.

He said the internal investigation could be an opportunity to “exonerate the innocent,” but he left open the possibility it might lead to changes.

“If there’s anything with the process that was either not adhered to in this case or something we can do to improve, then we’ll absolutely take those steps,” he said.

Tennessee Tech economics professor Jon Jonakin said there was a clear need to strengthen university policies to protect against conflicts of interest.

“This whole idea of sponsored research needs to be rethought," Jonakin said. "There is real incentive for industry to seek outcomes that don’t reflect good science.

"To do this right, you would require a huge amount of transparency, but the industry doesn’t want to do that so then you have ways to obscure and obfuscate.”

Reach Adam Tamburin at atamburin@tennessean.com or 615-726-5986 and on Twitter @tamburintweets.

Reach Jason Gonzales at jagonzales@tennessean.com and on Twitter @ByJasonGonzales.