Topical Alert Top Story UW-MADISON | AFTER THE ‘TOXIC’ LAB In wake of 'toxic' lab story, UW-Madison plans to start centrally tracking bullying complaints From the 'Toxic' lab: Read all coverage of the aftermath from a UW-Madison student's suicide series KELLY MEYERHOFER Nov 7, 2019 Nov 7, 2019 Updated May 10, 2023 Engineering Hall on UW-Madison's campus, where a lab described by students as "toxic" went unaddressed for years. STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save KELLY MEYERHOFER UW-Madison plans to start centrally tracking complaints of hostile and intimidating behavior to better identify patterns of bullying, such as the “abusive” conduct graduate students experienced in an engineering professor‘s lab.kAmr92?46==@C #636442 q=2?< 2??@F?465 2E 2 u24F=EJ $6?2E6 >66E:?8 E9:D H66< E92E 46?EC2= 42>AFD 25>:?:DEC2E@CD H:== @G6CD66 E9@D6 4@>A=2:?ED[ D:>:=2C E@ E96 H2J C6A@CED @7 D6IF2= 92C2DD>6?E 2?5 >:D4@?5F4E 2C6 92?5=65]k^Am kAm%96 72== a_`e DF:4:56 @7 2 DEF56?E H@C<:?8 :? 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C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 2DD@4:2E:@?’D =6EE6C E92E F?:G6CD:EJ A@=:4:6D 255C6DD H9:DE=63=@H6C AC@E64E:@?D 2?5 5@ ?@E 2==@H 7@C C6E2=:2E:@?]k^Am kAmq=2?<[ 2E E96 u24F=EJ $6?2E6 >66E:?8[ 6>A92D:K65 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 4C62E:?8 2 C6DA64E7F= 2?5 DFAA@CE:G6 H@C< 4=:>2E6] t?5:?8 E96 3692G:@C :==FDEC2E65 :? E96 42D6 @7 $2J665 C6BF:C6D 6G6CJ@?6 @? 42>AFD E@ :56?E:7J[ 255C6DD 2?5 4@?7C@?E 3F==J:?8[ D96 D2:5]k^AmkAm“w@DE:=6 2?5 :?E:>:52E:?8 3692G:@C @? E9:D 42>AFD :D D:>A=J F?2446AE23=6[” D96 D2:5] “x7 2 DEF56?E @C 4@==628F6 4@>6D E@ J@F H:E9 2 4@?46C?[ A=62D6 =:DE6? 2?5 A=62D6 24E] (6 <?@H D@>6E:>6D E96D6 :?4:56?ED 2C6 5:77:4F=E E@ C6A@CE[ 3FE :? @C56C E@ 4C62E6 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E H96C6 DEF56?ED[ DE277 2?5 724F=EJ 2C6 H6=4@>6[ E96J 92G6 E@ 766= 6>A@H6C65 E@ C6A@CE E96D6 D@CED @7 3692G:@C]”k^Am In this Series 'Toxic' lab: Read all coverage of the aftermath from a UW-Madison student's suicide Updated May 10, 2023 'Toxic' lab lasted for years. UW-Madison had little idea until a student died by suicide Updated May 10, 2023 UW-Madison failed to inform federal agency of 'abusive' professor's conduct, unpaid leave Updated May 10, 2023 In wake of 'toxic' lab story, UW-Madison plans to start centrally tracking bullying complaints 11 updates Previous Next Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story 'Toxic' lab lasted for years. UW-Madison had little idea until a student died by suicide John Brady faced a stressful work environment under an engineering professor before taking his own life. UW-Madison failed to inform federal agency of 'abusive' professor's conduct, unpaid leave National Science Foundation fired engineering professor Akbar Sayeed after receiving a detailed report on the toxic lab environment he oversaw. UW-Madison professor at center of 'toxic' lab won't teach next semester College of Engineering Dean Ian Robertson reassigned professor Akbar Sayeed to administrative duties in the Dean's Office. UW-Madison professor at center of 'toxic' lab wasn't fired. Is tenure to blame? Firing of faculty members is rare. The UW Board of Regents dismissed six professors in the past decade. UW-Madison students demand accountability and change following 'toxic lab' report Nearly 200 students and others gathered on the Engineering Mall on campus Thursday to demand the university hold abusers accountable and to pr… Front Page podcast: Higher education reporter Kelly Meyerhofer on UW-Madison 'toxic lab' series Listen to the inaugural episode of Front Page, the State Journal’s new weekly podcast that takes a look back at some of the paper’s most inter… With graduate student work conditions under scrutiny, UW-Madison unveils new policy Students said the policy doesn't go far enough to protect them from potential exploitation. UW-Madison opens 2nd investigation into professor at center of 'toxic' engineering lab The most recent investigation of tenured professor Akbar Sayeed is "currently underway regarding additional information that surfaced in fall 2019." UW-Madison engineering professor who led 'toxic' lab will resign this summer The professor's resignation comes more than four years after the suicide of one of his students. ‘Everyone knew!’ Problems with UW-Madison prof who led 'toxic' lab persisted for 2 decades Engineering professor Akbar Sayeed left behind a "career-long string of victims," according to a recently released report. Threats, abuse, retaliation: UW-Madison confronts persistent problem of academic bullying A Wisconsin State Journal investigation identified nine employees who were accused of violating the university's policy against hostile and in… Watch Now: Related Video ‘You are a coward.’ Judge sentences Gilgo Beach killer to life in prison without parole Top stories for June 17, 2026 Top stories for June 17, 2026 Top stories for June 17, 2026 Top stories for June 17, 2026 Alcohol consumption health risks Alcohol consumption health risks Watch Now: Related Video ‘You are a coward.’ Judge sentences Gilgo Beach killer to life in prison without parole Top stories for June 17, 2026 Top stories for June 17, 2026 Top stories for June 17, 2026 Top stories for June 17, 2026 Alcohol consumption health risks Alcohol consumption health risks
'Toxic' lab lasted for years. UW-Madison had little idea until a student died by suicide John Brady faced a stressful work environment under an engineering professor before taking his own life.
UW-Madison failed to inform federal agency of 'abusive' professor's conduct, unpaid leave National Science Foundation fired engineering professor Akbar Sayeed after receiving a detailed report on the toxic lab environment he oversaw.
UW-Madison professor at center of 'toxic' lab won't teach next semester College of Engineering Dean Ian Robertson reassigned professor Akbar Sayeed to administrative duties in the Dean's Office.
UW-Madison professor at center of 'toxic' lab wasn't fired. Is tenure to blame? Firing of faculty members is rare. The UW Board of Regents dismissed six professors in the past decade.
UW-Madison students demand accountability and change following 'toxic lab' report Nearly 200 students and others gathered on the Engineering Mall on campus Thursday to demand the university hold abusers accountable and to pr…
Front Page podcast: Higher education reporter Kelly Meyerhofer on UW-Madison 'toxic lab' series Listen to the inaugural episode of Front Page, the State Journal’s new weekly podcast that takes a look back at some of the paper’s most inter…
With graduate student work conditions under scrutiny, UW-Madison unveils new policy Students said the policy doesn't go far enough to protect them from potential exploitation.
UW-Madison opens 2nd investigation into professor at center of 'toxic' engineering lab The most recent investigation of tenured professor Akbar Sayeed is "currently underway regarding additional information that surfaced in fall 2019."
UW-Madison engineering professor who led 'toxic' lab will resign this summer The professor's resignation comes more than four years after the suicide of one of his students.
‘Everyone knew!’ Problems with UW-Madison prof who led 'toxic' lab persisted for 2 decades Engineering professor Akbar Sayeed left behind a "career-long string of victims," according to a recently released report.
Threats, abuse, retaliation: UW-Madison confronts persistent problem of academic bullying A Wisconsin State Journal investigation identified nine employees who were accused of violating the university's policy against hostile and in…
