University investigators are looking into the recent scientific scandal of a Medical student whose fraudulent research data went unnoticed for more than two years while being published in prestigious national journals.
Lisa Baker, associate vice president for University relations, said the adminstration's punitive response is unknown at this time.
"It could be anything from the rescission of the degree to expulsion from the program."
The student confessed earlier this month to misrepresenting and fabricating data to Dr. Francis Collins, a former University professor of human genetics who is now the head of the National Center for Human Genome Research.
When the student admitted to falsifying the studies in leukemia and genetic research, Collins withdrew the data from scientific journals, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The student had performed his studies as a junior scientist under Collins.
Baker said she couldn't comment on the progress of the University investigation, which is being performed in cooperation with the Office of Research Integrity in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"No one has concluded what the outcome will be," she said. "We'll have a fair and impartial process."
Baker said that a verified violation of academic integrity requires a response of either a lowered or failing grade, a note of misconduct on the student transcript, suspension or expulsion.
The National Institute of Health is conducting a separate investigation into the fraud.
However, Don Roboski, a spokesperson for the agency, said no findings would be revealed until the investigation has concluded.
"I had no evidence, in frequent interactions with the junior scientist over the course of three years, to question his honesty," Collins wrote in a letter to the genetic research community. "Even in retrospect, I am not sure how these deceptions could have been uncovered sooner."
Baker said making assertions about upcoming disciplinary action would be premature and maintained that the punishment could vary considerably depending on the results of the investigation.
"It will take some time," she said. "I don't know what will happen. I think it's wrong to speculate in these circumstances."