The National University of Singapore (NUS) confirmed on Wednesday the termination of Chen Xiaoyuan's tenured professorship following an internal investigation into allegations of repeated verbal and physical misconduct by a female PhD candidate since early this year. Chen broke his silence the next day, denying the claims and stating he will appeal. A group calling itself the 'Chen Xiaoyuan Team' rejected the allegations on Chinese social media and announced plans to sue the accuser.
Chen Xiaoyuan, a prominent biotech scientist and former tenured professor at NUS's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, has been linked to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering in the US. Allegations of his behavior first circulated on social media before NUS launched a midyear investigation that included hearings, leading to the termination of his position. The university described the conduct as 'unsolicited and unwanted' in its confirmation to the South China Morning Post.
On Thursday, Chen stated: “I am appealing the termination of my tenure. I deny the complainant’s allegations and I am unable to comment further because I intend to pursue the appeals process and my legal remedies.” He denied authoring posts by the “Chen Xiaoyuan Team” on Chinese social media but affirmed his appeal plans.
The group's unnamed commenters rejected the sexual harassment claims on Thursday and leveled accusations against the alleged victim. They announced intentions to pursue legal action against her. The case has sparked a flurry of claims and counterclaims on social media, highlighting challenges in addressing misconduct in academia. Chen's career also includes ties to the University of Idaho, Taixing City in Jiangsu province, and the US National Academy of Sciences, though the focus remains on the NUS decision and its potential legal ramifications.
