University of Washington microbiologist Michael Katze made a name for himself as a researcher specializing in viral pathogens such as the Ebola virus, but now he’s in the news for a different reason – as the first tenured UW professor to be terminated.
This week’s firing follows an investigation into charges of sexual harassment and misuse of university resources, which first came to light last year in a report by BuzzFeed News.
In a statement emailed to GeekWire, UW spokesman Victor Balta said a months-long disciplinary process “confirmed violations of university policies and executive orders, including conduct counter to the core values of our university.” The termination “upholds our commitment to a safe workplace for all employees,” Balta said.
Efforts to contact Katze were unsuccessful.
Scoop: @UW Just Fired A Tenured Professor For The First Time >> it's microbiologist Michael Katze, @azeen reports: https://t.co/ACoCNHZegK
— BuzzFeed Science (@BuzzFeedScience) August 3, 2017
