Hauser's Harvard lab still open, under supervision of dean

By Carolyn Y. Johnson, Globe Staff

Harvard psychology professor Marc Hauser, who is on a one-year leave after an internal investigation found that he had engaged in scientific misconduct, still continues to "have a role" with students who chose not to switch advisers, according to a Harvard spokesman.

"While Dr. Hauser is on leave, graduate and post doctoral students were afforded the opportunity to work with new advisers or, if they chose, to continue their research under Dr. Hauser's supervision in order to avoid potential disruption to their careers," Harvard spokesman Jeff Neal wrote in an e-mail. He added that Hauser has a role with the students "under supervision established by the Dean" of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Michael D. Smith.

The Harvard Crimson reported today that Hauser is in constant contact with graduate students and visited the lab this summer.

"There are students, who are completely blameless...who are doing work with dogs in this lab. If the lab is closed, they can't do their work," said Susan Carey, the chair of the psychology department. "These are people's careers. They've spent years getting this work going."

Carey said that she and Hauser have both spoken to his students extensively about how to move forward, including encouraging them to seek new advisers.

"They still need the resources of Marc's lab to do the work," Carey said. "So that is one reason that, in some sense, the lab is still open."