Salk Institute biologist to leave post August 13 after 22 years

A biologist at the Salk Institute in La Jolla will formally leave his post on August 13 after 22 years at the institute. The departure follows a complaint of workplace misconduct filed in March by a staff research assistant in his laboratory. The institute placed the biologist on leave while it conducted an investigation and offered support to the staff member.

The institute stated that it initiated a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation after the assistant raised concerns through official reporting channels. The woman later left the institute voluntarily, and her identity has not been disclosed. The biologist denied the allegations in an email cited by the journal Science.

He wrote that he is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and professional environment for everyone in his research team.

The biologist's laboratory studies circadian rhythms and intermittent fasting. His work has brought millions of dollars to the institute and focused on the body's internal 24-hour clock and its potential role in preventing and reversing chronic disease.

The biologist's resignation comes eight years after another Salk biologist left following an investigation into alleged sexual harassment. Eight women accused that researcher of harassment, and he also denied the allegations.