Cell Biologist David Sabatini Fired for Sexual Harassment

The researcher, known for his work on the mTOR signaling pathway, is no longer with MIT’s Whitehead Institute or HHMI following an investigation into his conduct.

Written byShawna Williams

| 2 min read

David Sabatini seated, looking at camera

David Sabatini in 2012

Image credit:PORTER GIFFORD

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Update (April 26, 2022): NYU Grossman School of Medicine is considering hiring David Sabatini, Science reports.

Update (April 4, 2022): David Sabatini resigned from MIT on Friday (April 1) after the university recommended that his tenure be revoked, The Boston Globe reports.

Update (October 21): Sabatini has filed a lawsuit against Ruth Lehmann, the Whitehead Institute, and a former colleague he claims made false allegations about him after he ended what he calls a consensual relationship, The Boston Globe reports.

David Sabatini, a cell biologist known for his discovery of mTOR kinase and his work on its associated signaling pathway, was fired from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and resigned from the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research Friday (August 20), Science reports. (Business Insider and The Boston Globe previously reported that Sabatini had been placed on leave.) According to an email posted on Twitter that is purported to be to ...

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Meet the Author

Shawna Williams
Shawna was an editor at The Scientist from 2017 through 2022. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Colorado College and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Previously, she worked as a freelance editor and writer, and in the communications offices of several academic research institutions. As news director, Shawna assigned and edited news, opinion, and in-depth feature articles for the website on all aspects of the life sciences. She is based in central Washington State, and is a member of the Northwest Science Writers Association and the National Association of Science Writers.
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