SEATTLE — The University of Washington says a microbiology professor faces possible discipline for violating sexual harassment policies.
As detailed in a report on BuzzFeed this week, university investigations found Dr. Michael Katze demanded and received sexual favors from an employee in his lab.
What we know about the allegations
Investigators found that the woman, who had little prior job experience and performed little work in the office, was paid 12 percent more than the university's average for her position, and received gifts and vacations from the professor.
Another former employee also said she felt pressured to engage in sexual relations with him for fear of losing her job.
University spokesman Norm Arkans says Katze was placed on home assignment during the investigation, and the matter is now in the faculty disciplinary process. Arkans called Katze's conduct inappropriate.
Katze's lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment Friday.
Buzzfeed News wrote Katze's research was remarkable
"His team decoded the DNA of viral particles, tested experimental AIDS vaccines on monkeys, and predicted how the deadliest outbreaks spread across the globe," Buzzfeed reporter Azeen Ghorayshi wrote.
"His work was supported by several federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, which is concerned with understanding the basics of diseases and developing treatments, as well as the Department of Defense, which is wary of bioterrorism and the national security threats posed by diseases such as Ebola."
BuzzFeed reports that by the time the investigation began, the university was getting roughly $30 million in active federal grants for Katze's research.
About Katze's investigation
The investigation was based on interviews with 26 current and former employees and colleagues. It included text messages, emails, and other documents, according to BuzzFeed.
BuzzFeed publish: Because concerns about retaliation were "unlike anything I had seen in any investigation I had previously conducted," lead investigator Ian Messerle wrote, all interviewees (except Katze and the two women) were kept anonymous.
Many employees and students who talked to Messerle about their experience with Katze reportedly said they didn’t think going to the administration would have done anything.
According to BuzzFeed, those employees and students “expressed a belief that Dr. Katze would not be held accountable for his behavior because there had been previous complaints made about him without consequence.”
The Associated Press contributed this report.
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