Nanoelectronics researcher fired

from the Serious-errors dept.
A prominent nanoelectronics researcher whose work has been under a cloud of suspicion for several months has been fired after investigators concluded that he falsified published experimental data. The committee formed by the researcher's employer, Bell Labs, "…concluded that Jan Hendrik Schon, 32, made up or altered data at least 16 times between 1998 and 2001…" The research involved superconductivity, molecular electronics and molecular crystals. Speaking of the tainted results that had received much attention, the committee concluded that Schon "did this intentionally or recklessly and without the knowledge of any of his co-authors." See Famed Nanotech Researcher Axed. Before the results were suspected, they were considered substantial advances in the field. See, for example, a Nanodot post of November 8, 2001.