UC Berkeley professor accused of sexual assault
UC Berkeley is investigating associate chemistry professor Kwabena Bediako over multiple sexual assault allegations from former graduate students. The accusations inspired a letter of demands, signed by over 800 students, staff and faculty.
According to Chemistry World, in an open letter to UCB, the graduate student alleged that Bediako initiated “repeated, inappropriate attempts to pursue a romantic relationship” with her. Additionally, another former graduate student accused Bediako of harassment and mistreatment beginning in 2013.
The letter demanded that Bediako be prevented from accepting new employees into his lab without the applicants being notified of the claims made against him. The demands also included a request for UCB chemistry faculty to develop “peer-led, anti-harassment training” for professors in the department.
UC Merced receives its first AHA Career award
UC Merced bioengineering professor Arian Aghilinejad received the American Heart Association (AHA) Career Development Award for his project, “A Fluid Dynamics Approach to the Development of Next-Generation Left Ventricular Assist Devices.” This is the first time UCM has received this award.
According to UCM Newsroom, the prize includes $231,000 of funding for three years of Aghilinejad’s research,which focuses on ways to improve Left Ventricular Devices (LVAD) which treat patients with advanced heart failure.
“While LVADs have significantly improved survival rates, many patients still experience serious complications, including blood clots, stroke and right-heart failure,” Aghilinejad said to UCM Newsroom. “My research focuses on understanding the underlying fluid dynamics that contribute to these complications. By achieving a better understanding of device operation, we aim to reduce risks and improve long-term outcomes for patients.”
Faculty and students lobby California representatives to fully fund the UC
Over 100 University of California (UC) faculty, staff and students traveled to Sacramento to participate in UC Day to demand California state representatives to fully fund the UC system on April 29.
These demands come from “federal funding uncertainty” and continuously rising costs of living. Included in the funding request, the UC is urging state representatives to pass SB 895, which aims to establish a $23 billion bond for research funding.
“If passed, SB 895 would help ensure that critical scientific research continues in California, strengthening the state’s resilience through investments in biomedical and health research, climate and environmental science, behavioral health, wildfire resilience and emerging technologies,” the press release reads.
A version of this article appeared on p. 2 of the May 7 print edition of the Daily Nexus
