Need advice - troubled situation with advisor & lab

[spankyT]

If anyone could relate to this, I would love to hear your thoughts...

Long story short... I have lost respect for my advisor, ethically and scientifically, and for the entire lab. 

Major things: Based entirely on my thesis work I drafted out the aims and provided all the relevant preliminary data for a NIH grant, which led to a successful accession of an RO1.  My advisor refused to show me the final draft prior to submitting the grant, and also did not give it to my collaborator who is working with me on my project.  Finally after the grant was accepted, after much persuasion, I attained a copy.  And to my horror upon looking into it, I see my advisor fabricated data, he inserted western blots for which I did not do the experiments for nor own the antibody, made false qpcr graphs with error bars, made a section based on an 'idea' to supplement one of the aims which came from the sky, etc  I didn't even read the whole grant carefully, everytime I look at it I find something new that upsets me. 

He steals my data (he keeps asking me to give updates), and gives it to the Chinese (advisor is chinese) friends behind my back, uses it all over the place to apply for all kinds of grants left and right -- and I would not be surprised if he manipulated the data and 'added' to it to make it a great seller. 

I solidified my doubts, when there were times my advisor said, grants do not need real data, it's just preliminary stuff.  And another time he told me I don't need to send him my data, because he remembers generally what I showed him once and he can 'recreate' the image....

 

There is a chinese circle going on in the lab.  Many years ago, there was a very aggressive moody chinese postdoc who my advisor dearly loved.  When this postdoc got a professor position in China, he stole over 100 antibodies from the lab, and reagents, bacteria stocks the night before he left on the plane -- many of which personally affected me because my work overlapped his of which I had to "borrow" on hands and knees to use "his" antibodies, for which I had none of my own.  To this day, we need to email him to RE-send "back" the bacteria stocks missing from our lab that people need to use for their projects.  I did not ever imagine it was allowed to take all these reagents over to China, but it happened.  I was pissed off.  I wrote a long email describing what happened, telling my advisor how I can't even do my own research because everything is Gone!  The advisor defended this former postdoc, saying he has a right to take what he needs from the lab to establish his lab, because in China is takes a long time to ship american products there.  Yes.  On top of this, that postdoc was insanely obsessed with my project, and kept trying to get involved with my work.  At one point, my advisor told me I should let this former postdoc do experiments for  my project In China In his Lab, experiments which I could easily do myself and were unnecessary.  I fought that off with a long angry email, and documented how I independently conceived my project and designed every single experiment leading up to my own conclusions, nothing but the truth.  The saga continues, as this 'collaboration' between our lab and this former postdoc continues, which involves him mysteriously getting 'involved' with other people's projects in our lab and his name getting on our labs papers it even if he did barely anything/nothing.  I don't understand why he can't do his own work on China?  Each time my advisor defends him, saying how it is so hard in china, because to maintain your grants they look at how many publications you  have, and if you don't have enough they cut the money..so we must help this former postdoc.  Clearly there is some circus going on here, as I heard my advisor wants to set up another lab in China, so there is something going on between them.  everytime some chinese person goes over to china, they put reagents and cells into their suitcase over for this former postdoc. 

 

On top of everything, over the years the lab has transformed into mini China.  I love diversity, but I don't like the idea of exclusion and loss of professionalism.  People can speak their native tongue, but when it comes to science it should be in english to include everyone.  It doesn't help my advisor speaks Chinese All the Time with all the chinese people, which has encouraged them to do the same.  And also he prefers chinese people now, so he takes chinese over any other ethnicity, and now the lab is 80% chinese. 

I have lost my respect and motivation, there is SO much more, but what I described is just a fraction of what I have to deal with, lets not mention the disposal of chemical waste down the sink and biohazard risks they practice in the lab due to pure laziness or cultural belief, despite my continuous reminders and pleas.

 

I am in my eighth year of my Ph.D. I want to get out.  I am getting closer to finishing my project, and still need to publish, so I still have time to put in...  My problem is how to deal with this, I am considering reporting it to the dept head after I graduate.  I don't know.  I am just trying to keep sane, and stay motivated so I am not running in place everyday.  I work at night to avoid people, because I've reached a point after listening to years of chinese, I am sick of feeling isolated and used.  They only speak english when they want me to help them, give them something, want me to do something.  I shouldn't react the way i do, but I'm frustrated and I get so angry at them. 

any thoughts???  this is so long, so much for the long story short, but believe it or not it is the short version

[St Andrews Lynx]

At this point, if you really want to get the PhD I don't think you have any choice but to just keep going. 

 

In regards to the data fabrication I would probably speak to a university ombudsman or a similarly impartial advisor: if you want to whistle-blow then you will need a strong paper trail and to know what the official policy & procedure is (whistleblowing to the university vs the funding body, etc). Bear in mind that once you whistleblow the whole lab could be shut down/dissolved, and your name will be associated with that PI in the process. That's not to say don't do it - just think about all the possible consequences and how you would prepare for that. 

 

Also, find friends. They don't have to be fellow grad students - although they would be easy to meet - but try to do something outside of the lab that puts you into contact with new people. 

 

With regards to the issue of you labmates - how often do you try and engage them in (non-work related) conversation? It sounds like at the moment you are hiding from them - if you only work at nights they will assume you want to be left alone. I would make more of an effort to engage with them - the more they like you the more they will try to accommodate you. Although Chinese culture & language is very different from Western culture & English...at the end of the day we're all human with the same needs & emotions. Try to find common ground rather than focussing on the differences.

[spankyT]

Thanks for your insight Mocha,

you are right, I should focus on the common ground in a more positive light, thanks

[iExcelAtMicrosoftPuns]

I don't think it is particularly important to call out your prof's ethnicity.

You could have just said, "he gives it to his buddies who share his ethnicity."

You probably have a very valid concern. You're probably in a really terrible position. Yet the way you've worded it all I can read is implicit racism.

I also get the sense that English is not your first language... May I ask what your first language is?

[spankyT]

I don't think it is particularly important to call out your prof's ethnicity.

You could have just said, "he gives it to his buddies who share his ethnicity."

You probably have a very valid concern. You're probably in a really terrible position. Yet the way you've worded it all I can read is implicit racism.

I also get the sense that English is not your first language... May I ask what your first language is?

I apologize for implying racism.  I should have worded it differently, I was simply stating the facts.

English is my first language, I am actually also Chinese-American.  And when I have brought this up to other Chinese friends from China, I have actually had one of them apologize to me for this behavior (although totally unnecessary) and saying how it was embarassing that some Chinese people behave in such a way to give others such a reputation.  Anyway, this is not about race.  I am more disturbed by the pure ethics of it all. 

[Lisa44201]

Yeah, the potentially fraudulent information on a grant app is really troubling.

 

I'm trying to figure out the likelihood that the grant in question will be audited/evaluated. If that fell apart because the NIH discovered it, it would, quite possibly, ruin your career. On the other hand, I'm not sure being a whistleblower is a better option. 

 

I believe ethically it needs to be reported; academic fraud is never okay, but especially in a health/medicine field, the practical implications of something being published based on fraudulent data is stomach-churning.

Edited January 17, 2014 by Lisa44201

[juilletmercredi]

Well, first, if your advisor is paying for all of your lab equipment and paying your salary, he's not stealing your data if he shares with with his friends or uses it to apply for grants.  The data is his.  Technically, if you remember from your RCR classes, it really belongs to the university - but given that he's the PI on the grant for all intents and purposes it's his.  You're just working on the experiments with him.  Also, if your advisor has purchased all of the equipment, reagents, antibodies, etc., for the lab...he gets to control who takes them.

 

The issues about the number of Chinese students in the lab are irrelevant.  So what if your advisor speaks his native tongue with his Chinese students?  That has nothing to do with you.  I'm assuming that at lab meetings and in his individual meetings with you, he speaks English, and that the other grad students and postdoc speak English with you.

 

The real issue here is the fabricated data in the grants.  Are you sure that it is fabricated?  Perhaps another grad student or postdoc did the Western blots and other experiments, and you just didn't know about that.  Maybe he's collaborating with another lab and that's where the additional graphs and data come from, and since you didn't read the whole grant carefully, you don't know.  Re-read the grant carefully and if it still seems as if your advisor has fabricated data, go to the university ombudsperson and discuss it with them.  They will help you decide on the best course of action, and will keep your conversation confidential until you decide what to do.

[Guest |||]

 

Well, first, if your advisor is paying for all of your lab equipment and paying your salary, he's not stealing your data if he shares with with his friends or uses it to apply for grants.  The data is his.  Technically, if you remember from your RCR classes, it really belongs to the university - but given that he's the PI on the grant for all intents and purposes it's his.  You're just working on the experiments with him.  Also, if your advisor has purchased all of the equipment, reagents, antibodies, etc., for the lab...he gets to control who takes them.

 

That may be true but I really feel it sidesteps the issue

 

If you were collecting data to finish your ph.d and your supervisor kept giving it away to others, would your reaction be "Well it is his lab after all". 

[spankyT]

That may be true but I really feel it sidesteps the issue

 

If you were collecting data to finish your ph.d and your supervisor kept giving it away to others, would your reaction be "Well it is his lab after all". 

Thank you

[thegirldetective]

 

In regards to the data fabrication I would probably speak to a university ombudsman or a similarly impartial advisor: if you want to whistle-blow then you will need a strong paper trail and to know what the official policy & procedure is (whistleblowing to the university vs the funding body, etc). Bear in mind that once you whistleblow the whole lab could be shut down/dissolved, and your name will be associated with that PI in the process.

 

It's also going to be pretty awful if he gets caught later, and you are considered complicit by your scientific peers.

 

Talk to an ombudsperson ASAP to figure out your options. Best case scenario: Your department is sensitive to your circumstances and arranges for you to transfer labs, and works out an arragment where you can graduate without too much extra time. Worst case scenario: Your department closes ranks and defends the professor, freezing you out in the process. Talk to your ombudsperson to get a realistic sense of what your best options are.

[DropTheBase]

Everyone above already gave great advice. This is certainly a grey area. 

 

I just want to point out that the person you want to talk to is actually the ORI (Office of Research Integrity) officer. If you do decide to take action, you can first speak to the ORI officer in "hypotheticals". What that means is it's completely between you and the ORI officer, and regardless of what you say (short of contemplating harming others) none of it will be reported. This is usually done when you want to find out the potential consequences of whistleblowing as well as how much evidence you need to collect to make a case. Whereas if you do decide to actually report fabricated data, the ORI officer will likely ask you to give testimony and so on.

 

If you're bored, you can play this interactive game: http://ori.hhs.gov/thelab and play as the graduate student who's in a somewhat similar situation to yours!

[threading_the_neidl]

Ombuds ombuds ombuds. You're the most vulnerable person in the lab, and there's nothing wrong with looking out for yourself first. Start strongly pushing a quick dissertation and graduation to your committee, secure a new position, and then have your ombuds help you disseminate what you know to right people.

[fuzzylogician]

Ombuds ombuds ombuds. You're the most vulnerable person in the lab, and there's nothing wrong with looking out for yourself first. Start strongly pushing a quick dissertation and graduation to your committee, secure a new position, and then have your ombuds help you disseminate what you know to right people.

 

I second this. And if it's at all possible to change advisors, or add a second main person who you work with, I'd do that too. Finish your dissertation and get out of there before doing anything else, and even then I'd be careful and do it through the ombudsperson. If the story does break and your advisor is accused of / is caught fabricating data, your work will be implicated by association. You will be suspected, and in addition you will not have (or want to have) your advisor's support in letters of recommendation for future jobs. It's important that you have the support of others on your dissertation committee, or of a new advisor, or you'll have a hard time getting an academic job and it may also be harmful (though less so, I think) in industry. 

[spankyT]

Thanks so much for all the advice.  I know in my heart what is the right thing to do, but sometimes when doing the right thing...it doesn't always feel right.  I am quite scared, but as it was pointed out it can catch up to me and everyone involved. 

I have just reported it confidentially to a faculty member I completely trust, which is turning out to be more horrific than I thought, after we both carefuly went through the entire grant, we realized this faculty member was listed as a type of collaborator with my current lab and my advisor had written we had 'established' and attained results with his lab, which were never done.  So this is bigger than me.  That faculty is now deciding what we should do.  He told me it could destroy me, and there is no way I can get out of this without harm.  I couldn't find an ombuds person at my department level, it seems there is one way high up in admin I would have to go to...which I feel entirely uncomfortable and I am not sure if I can trust that.  I am frantically trying to get my last experiments done.  

I just know, how could I graduate with a Ph.D and know in the back of my mind I couldn't uphold the basic principle of what it means to be a scientist and I left behind with full knowledge an individual that will continue to go down this road, taking advantage of collaborators, students, government dollars, putting at then all at risk.

[Lisa44201]

Thanks so much for all the advice.  I know in my heart what is the right thing to do, but sometimes when doing the right thing...it doesn't always feel right.  I am quite scared, but as it was pointed out it can catch up to me and everyone involved. 

I have just reported it confidentially to a faculty member I completely trust, which is turning out to be more horrific than I thought, after we both carefuly went through the entire grant, we realized this faculty member was listed as a type of collaborator with my current lab and my advisor had written we had 'established' and attained results with his lab, which were never done.  So this is bigger than me.  That faculty is now deciding what we should do.  He told me it could destroy me, and there is no way I can get out of this without harm.  I couldn't find an ombuds person at my department level, it seems there is one way high up in admin I would have to go to...which I feel entirely uncomfortable and I am not sure if I can trust that.  I am frantically trying to get my last experiments done.  

I just know, how could I graduate with a Ph.D and know in the back of my mind I couldn't uphold the basic principle of what it means to be a scientist and I left behind with full knowledge an individual that will continue to go down this road, taking advantage of collaborators, students, government dollars, putting at then all at risk.

I can only imagine what you are going through. I really do think you did the right thing.

 

Would the faculty member you reported it to be willing/able to take you on as a student?

[threading_the_neidl]

Again, ombuds. They may seem "high up," but they are there as an independent entity from the university. The ombuds will be a lawyer and you speak to them in complete, LEGAL confidentiality. They can give you advice on how to protect yourself and how to start the official process of having the PI investigated. They absolutely will not do anything without your full consent. I've been in a somewhat similar situation and the ombuds was absolutely my best friend.

[thegirldetective]

Again, ombuds. They may seem "high up," but they are there as an independent entity from the university. The ombuds will be a lawyer and you speak to them in complete, LEGAL confidentiality. They can give you advice on how to protect yourself and how to start the official process of having the PI investigated. They absolutely will not do anything without your full consent. I've been in a somewhat similar situation and the ombuds was absolutely my best friend.

 

Yeah, I really would look into this. No matter how well intentioned the other professor is, an ombuds will know more about how you can protect yourself.