Can Germany rein in its academic bullying problem?

3 min read Original article ↗
  • CAREER FEATURE

Researchers and administrators are exploring ways to restructure a rigid hierarchy that can breed power abuses.

By

  1. Virginia Gewin

    1. Virginia Gewin is a freelance reporter in Portland, Oregon.

A stylised illustration in shades of blue depicting a womans worried face. She has mid-length hair and is wearing big round glasses with pressure gauges for lenses pointing to the highest red section. In the reflection of the glass is a looming and intimidating silhouette of a person, with their hands on their hips.

Illustration: Sébastien Thibault

At one of Germany’s top-funded universities, a high-profile biology researcher has bullied his large group of junior staff, targeting women and international students, for decades. In interviews with Nature’s careers team, 14 current and former laboratory members detail what they describe as endless demands for unrealistic levels of research productivity. If those demands aren’t met, they allege, he withholds letters of recommendation and approval of time off work. If displeased, he denies funding or sends disparaging e-mails to researchers’ potential employers. Verbal abuse is commonplace. Women report being warned not to get pregnant while a member of his lab.

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Nature 641, 545-547 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-01207-8

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