Satchin Panda, a leading biologist at the Salk Institute, will resign on Aug. 13 after a female research assistant filed a workplace sexual misconduct complaint in March and the institute launched an investigation. The Salk says it provided support to the staff member and conducted a prompt review; the complainant later left the institute voluntarily. Panda has denied the allegations in an email cited by Science. His lab, known for work on circadian rhythms and time-restricted eating, brought substantial funding to the institute.
Salk Scientist Satchin Panda To Resign After Lab Worker Raises Sexual Misconduct Complaint
Photo of Satchin Panda wearing glasses and a gray suit.
Satchin Panda, a prominent biologist at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, is scheduled to resign on Aug. 13 after 22 years at the institute following a workplace misconduct complaint filed by a female research assistant, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Satchin Panda, a prominent biologist at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, will leave his post after 22 years at the institute. Salk Institute
The institute placed Panda on administrative leave in March while it reviewed the allegation. In an official statement, the Salk said:
"In March of this year, a staff research assistant raised concerns about workplace misconduct through Salk's official reporting channels. The Institute offered support and resources to the staff member and initiated a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation."
Panda had recently been placed on leave while the institute investigated a complaint of workplace misconduct. The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images
The complainant's identity has not been disclosed; she later left the institute voluntarily. Panda has denied the allegations in an email cited by the journal Science. In that message he said he is "deeply committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and professional environment for everyone in my research team and across the Institute" and called those values central to his leadership.
Panda denied the allegations in an email cited by the journal Science. Salk Institute
Research and Impact
Panda's laboratory is known for studies of circadian rhythms and time-restricted eating (intermittent fasting). His work on the molecular mechanisms of the body’s 24-hour clock and on dietary timing has attracted significant grant funding to the Salk and helped position the lab as a leader in metabolic and chronobiology research.
Context and Institutional History
Panda's resignation evokes a prior high-profile case at the Salk: in 2018, noted biologist Inder Verma stepped down after an investigation into alleged sexual harassment in which multiple women came forward. Like Panda, Verma denied the allegations at the time. The Salk has said it investigates reported concerns through its formal processes and provides resources to affected staff.
This article reports the current public facts: the complaint, the institute's investigation and support measures, Panda's denial, the resignation date and the research areas that defined his career at the Salk.
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