Ghent University suspends US researcher amid plagiarism probe into late Cambridge professor

Ghent University in Belgium suspended a U.S. academic on Thursday, August 20, 2026, who had spearheaded plagiarism accusations against former Cambridge professor Jason Arday, following Arday's death last week amid the scandal. The suspension marks a new chapter in a controversy that has sparked debate about academic conduct, public scrutiny, and mental health.

The researcher, Nathan Cofnas, a postdoctoral fellow at the university, announced his own suspension on social media, writing, "I was just suspended by Ghent University. They will almost certainly fire me." He stated he was under investigation for discriminating against Arday. Ghent University confirmed it had launched a preliminary disciplinary investigation against a postdoctoral researcher, suspending him as a precautionary measure, though it did not name Cofnas directly.

Jason Arday, who became Cambridge University's youngest-ever Black professor in 2023, was found dead at his London home on August 15. He was 41. His death came just over a week after he resigned from his post on August 5, citing the intolerable toll of the plagiarism allegations. Arday had disputed the accusations against him, which included claims he...