Doing research in an evolutionary biology lab and not believing in evolution might spell trouble for your career - at least it did for Nathaniel Abraham. The former postdoc at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is suing the institution because he says he was fired for his creationist beliefs, the Boston Globe reports today.

According to the Globe, Abraham joined the lab of Mark Hahn, who studies sensory signaling pathways, in March of 2004. Part of Hahn's work addresses the evolution of aryl hydrocarbon receptors. In October of that year, Abraham mentioned that he did not believe in evolution, and in November, 2004, Hahn wrote a letter to Abraham telling him that because Abraham would not agree to discuss evolution in co-authored publications, he was incompatible with the lab's work.

Abraham's suit is asking for $500,000 in compensation for having his civil rights violated. Woods Hole said in a statement that it does not discriminate based on religion, and that terminating Abraham was "entirely lawful."

Recently, rumors surfaced that an astronomer at Iowa State University was denied tenure because of his belief in intelligent design.