UW-MADISON | AFTER THE ‘TOXIC’ LAB In wake of 'toxic' lab story, UW-Madison plans to start centrally tracking bullying complaints From the Weekend re-reads: Check out these Wisconsin State Journal stories honored in state newspaper contest series KELLY MEYERHOFER Nov 7, 2019 Nov 7, 2019 Updated May 5, 2026 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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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 Weekend re-reads: Check out these Wisconsin State Journal stories honored in state newspaper contest Updated May 10, 2023 Owner vows to rebuild, but a popular northern Wisconsin destination in Boulder Junction won't be the same Updated Apr 20, 2022 Urban League helping fill Exact Sciences’ many job openings Updated Apr 20, 2022 'A church that stands for something that is vitally needed': Black and white churches form alliance 30 updates Previous Next Be the first to know Get local news delivered 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 ‘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. 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." 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 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 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. '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 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… 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. 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… Watch Now: Related Video WisEye Morning Minute: Study Committee on Cryptocurrency China: Robots box and dance at Beijing's 2026 World Robot Conference China: Robots box and dance at Beijing's 2026 World Robot Conference Top stories for Aug. 20, 2026 Top stories for Aug. 20, 2026 Moderna’s Personalized Cancer Vaccine Scores Late-Stage Win Moderna’s Personalized Cancer Vaccine Scores Late-Stage Win Watch Now: Related Video WisEye Morning Minute: Study Committee on Cryptocurrency China: Robots box and dance at Beijing's 2026 World Robot Conference China: Robots box and dance at Beijing's 2026 World Robot Conference Top stories for Aug. 20, 2026 Top stories for Aug. 20, 2026 Moderna’s Personalized Cancer Vaccine Scores Late-Stage Win Moderna’s Personalized Cancer Vaccine Scores Late-Stage Win
‘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.
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."
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 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 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.
'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 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…
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.
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…
