University of Minnesota loses $2 million federal grant after allegations of fabricated data

The federal government has terminated a University of Minnesota professor’s research grant worth more than $2 million, alleging he fabricated the project’s results and data.

In a letter to U officials dated March 28, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said the grant to the university would be terminated, effective about two weeks later.

The grant was from the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) for research led by Sayan Biswas, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the U’s Twin Cities campus.

“This termination decision is based on Principal Investigator Dr. Sayan Biswas’s admission that he fabricated research results and data as set forth in the University’s inquiry report submitted to ARPA-E on June 28, 2024,” the letter said.

Kurt Glaser, Biswas’ attorney, said his client has never admitted to falsifying data.

“The doctor used computer simulations as data, and the DOE found that objectionable,” he said. “It is an accepted modality of research.”

Biswas was the principal investigator on the project, which attempted to use plasma to minimize methane emissions into the environment from pipe flares.

Pipe flares can be used to dispose of waste gases at coal mines and oil and gas facilities, and in natural-gas engines. They are often used in fracking operations, too.

In January 2024, the Energy Department notified the U by letter that it was suspending the grant amid allegations of research misconduct.

Glaser said the science behind the project was good, but the hardware needed work. He said Biswas used the simulated data because he fell behind schedule.

He shared a February 2024 memo between U officials, noting there was a review of a “research misconduct inquiry of Sayan Biswas.” The memo also said “no further review is needed of the allegations.”

Glaser said Biswas remains a U employee and is on family leave after the birth of his child.

In the January 2024 letter about the grant suspension, the Energy Department said Biswas fabricated the project’s data results in an attempt to obtain additional funding worth more than $2 million.

The letter alleges that when Biswas’ colleagues confronted him about the fabrication, Biswas terminated their participation in the project.

 The letter said the matter was raised to the U’s department head in late 2023, but “apparently, no action was taken.”.

U spokeswoman Andria Waclawski said in an email that Biswas is on leave and makes $113,233 annually.

She confirmed there was an open complaint against Biswas and said a review was ongoing, in keeping with university policy. State statute says the U cannot share details of the review or the complaint, she added.

“The University of Minnesota is fully committed to the highest standards of research and steadfast in its commitment to research ethics and integrity, continuously monitoring our processes and fostering a culture of excellence,” the U said in a statement.

“It is the right thing to do and our core responsibility as one of the nation’s leading research universities.”

Waclawski said “multiple policies and standard processes” dictate how the U responds to allegations of academic or research misconduct and included links to them.

The Energy Department’s termination letter asks the university to provide an itemized list of project expenses before the grant was suspended.

It said the U must also “provide a written description of how it has updated and improved its process when conducting inquiries into allegations of research misconduct.”

“ARPA-E identified shortcomings in this process in its initial notice of suspension of the award,” the termination letter said.

The U declined to provide an interview with Shashank Priya, the U’s vice president for research.

An ARPA-E spokeswoman said she was “not able to comment on the award in question.”

U Regent James Farnsworth said he’d only recently heard about the allegations against Biswas and takes such situations “very seriously.”

“I intend to fulfill my responsibilities as a governing board member when it comes to fiduciary duty and oversight to ensure the University’s overall policies and procedures related to research misconduct are followed and implemented appropriately,” he said in an email.

Regent Robyn Gulley said research integrity was a core part of the U’s mission and “critical to do our impactful work.”

She said she’s “watching carefully to see how this happened and will support measures to close gaps and ensure all of our research meets the highest standards.”

The U also came under scrutiny after another professor, Rachel Hardeman, resigned amid accusations of plagiarism in April.

Hardeman has since said she resigned for reasons unrelated to the plagiarism allegations. She said an investigation by the university, spurred by a formal complaint, found no wrongdoing.