Ohio State University has admitted that a past researcher had “inappropriate foreign affiliations” and will pay $2.1 million to settle federal claims regarding the university’s failure to disclose these ties while applying for publicly funded research grants.
The Justice Department accused Ohio State of not adequately revealing connections and financial backing from Chinese universities and state-sponsored research organizations in applications and reports made to NASA and the National Science Foundation from 2012 to 2023.
Among the claims was that a principal investigator participated in China’s Thousand Talents Program.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Ohio State mentioned that it independently discovered and investigated the foreign affiliations of C.K. Shum and subsequently reported this information to federal authorities.
Shum is no longer with the university.
Benjamin Johnson, the university’s chief communications officer, stated that Ohio State had self-reported Shum’s inappropriate affiliations to NASA and the National Science Foundation.
Shum, who previously worked as an earth science professor and contributed to the Nobel Peace Prize, had his privileges as a principal investigator suspended. The university stopped any expenditures related to the federal awards tied to him, began disciplinary proceedings, and refunded the questioned federal grant funds. Throughout the investigation, Ohio State has collaborated with federal officials.
Ohio State emphasized its commitment to national security and research integrity, highlighting established measures like dedicated compliance offices, mandatory conflict-of-interest disclosures, and comprehensive training programs on security and foreign influence.
The Department of Justice’s press release indicated the necessity for OSU to disclose any foreign government affiliations in their grant applications.
The settlement specifically addresses allegations claiming that since 2014, annual Faculty Activity Reports indicated affiliations with Chinese universities and state-run organizations, yet this information was not communicated to NASA or the NSF.
Interestingly, Ohio State became aware in 2019 of a researcher associated with NASA-funded work being involved with the Thousand Talents Program, but didn’t notify NASA or the NSF until 2023.
The government portrays the Thousand Talents Program as an initiative backed by Beijing, aiming to attract individuals with expertise or access to overseas technologies and intellectual property.
The DOJ also uncovered other Ohio State employees with ties to Chinese organizations or who received funding from China related to the grants.
Brett Shumate, the assistant attorney general of the Civil Division, stated that American universities benefiting from federal support must disclose all foreign funding in their grant applications, emphasizing a commitment to enforce compliance in order to safeguard research security and federally funded scientific progress.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the DOJ for further comment.
