A University of Cambridge professor has resigned after being placed under investigation over allegations of plagiarism and questions surrounding his academic background.
Professor Jason Arday, who made history in 2023 as Cambridge’s youngest Black professor, stepped down on Wednesday after the university confirmed it had opened an inquiry into his ‘academic qualifications and honorary appointments’.
The investigation comes after a series of reports alleged that parts of his PhD thesis and other academic work had been plagiarised.
Further questions were also raised in the press about Professor Arday’s claims that he ran 600 miles in six days and raised £5.5 million for charity.
In a letter to colleagues published by the Good Law Project, Prof Arday said the intense public scrutiny had become overwhelming.
‘While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement,’ he wrote.
‘The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love.’
Explaining his decision to leave, he added: ‘The only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away.
‘This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge.
‘Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me. It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure.’
Cambridge said it had launched an investigation after receiving ‘new information’ relating to Professor Arday.
The university also said that separate complaints concerning alleged academic misconduct were also being dealt with under its research misconduct procedures.
A statement said: ‘Separately, there remains a number of ongoing complaints regarding academic misconduct, which are being handled in line with our misconduct in research policy.’
Jesus College, where Professor Arday was a fellow, said it had also begun its own investigation process in a statement.
An open letter organised by the Good Law Project supporting Prof Arday has been signed by nearly 16,000 people, including MPs, Lords and academics, as well as Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
Later this month, Professor Arday’s upcoming memoir, Great And Unfortunate Things is due to be published.
In promotional material for the book, he described how he was diagnosed with autism as a toddler and learned to speak at the age of 11 and read and write at 18 before later earning a PhD.