Oddbean

Shocking story about mRNA pioneer/Nobel winner Katalin Karikó, whose early advisor at Temple tried to have her deported & derailed her career because she dared to look for a better-paying job. Later, UPenn demoted her, then forced her out, because her research wasn't bringing in enough funding. #NobelPrize #science [HT Paul Novosad] https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/177/522/984/614/601/original/15b69bf0140acc6a.jpg

The story about Katalin Karikó's early career comes from the new book "A Shot to Save the World" by Gregory Zuckerman. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/678673/a-shot-to-save-the-world-by-gregory-zuckerman/

@691662b8 The UPenn? A bastion of integrity settling suits for 13 million, 4.5 million and others for among other things, sexual harrassment, collusion with 16 other schools, retirement overages, excessive fees and even settled for a million with one of its professors. I would never believe it would try to do anything so underhanded./s It's a school. A rather good school. Yet like many other good institutions, there are people involved. People get greedy and/or perverse in thinking.

@691662b8 And Temple is no better. My sister graduated from Temple. More stories of people identical to UPenn. It would seem as people get ingrained within a foundation, they view themselves as immune or worse, infallible while conducting required activities. The impression of infallibility reeks when they speak of their positions and it does reek! Personal experiences devolved into such a travesty. Ultimately an instructor lost credibility and a position. Such are people and such is life.

@691662b8 Whoever authored this piece should really check themselves. How on earth was pursuing a position at JHU without "prior warning" a "mistake" on Kariko's part? She has every right to pursue other job opportunities on whatever terms she desires. Suhadolnik was apparently an abusive and unethical researcher - why should he get any sort of "prior warning." That particular phrasing is a form of victim blaming.