Francesca Gino is a renowned professor at Harvard Business School, celebrated for her research into dishonesty and unethical behavior. But now, Gino finds herself at the center of a scandal. She has been accused of submitting work containing falsified results.

Gino’s prolific career has seen her author numerous influential studies in the field of behavioral science. Her expertise has been sought by global giants like Goldman Sachs and Google, and she has been a frequent contributor to major news outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR.

However, the past two weeks have brought a shocking turn of events. Several individuals, including a colleague, have come forward with allegations that Gino tampered with data in at least four of her papers.

Currently on administrative leave, Gino’s situation remains uncertain. Harvard Business School has declined to comment on the timing of the decision or the allegations themselves.

In a carefully worded statement shared on LinkedIn, the professor acknowledged awareness of the claims but neither confirmed nor denied any wrongdoing. “As I continue to evaluate these allegations and assess my options, I am limited into what I can say publicly,” Gino wrote. “I want to assure you that I take them seriously and they will be addressed.”

The scandal first came to light through a report by The Chronicle of Higher Education earlier this month. The news outlet revealed that over the past year, Harvard had been investigating a series of papers involving Gino.

One particular paper from 2012 became a focal point. According to Max H. Bazerman, a Harvard Business School professor who collaborated with Gino, it appeared that someone had added and altered figures in the database. The study, which explored honesty in tax and insurance paperwork, has since been retracted by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The allegations against Gino have sent shockwaves through the academic community. Gino is a well-respected scholar with a long history of publishing in top journals. Her work has been cited thousands of times, and she has won numerous awards for her research.

If the allegations against Gino are true, it would be a major blow to her reputation and to the field of behavioral science. It would also raise questions about the reliability of her research and the integrity of the academic publishing process.

The investigation into Gino’s work is ongoing. It is unclear when or how it will be resolved. But one thing is for sure: the scandal has tarnished the reputation of one of the most prominent scholars in the field of behavioral science.