Jason Arday, the Cambridge professor at the centre of a plagiarism row, resigned "with immediate effect" on Wednesday evening after being placed under investigation. The university said the inquiry into Mr Arday came "following new information" about his "academic qualifications and honorary appointments".
Background and allegations
Mr Arday was appointed professor of sociology at Cambridge in 2023, becoming the establishment's youngest black professor at the age of 37. Diagnosed with autism at three, he was unable to speak until 11 and could not read or write until 18. He overcame these challenges, earning his PhD in 2015 and holding posts at Leeds Beckett, Roehampton, Durham, and Glasgow universities before moving to Cambridge.
Allegations against him include plagiarism in his PhD thesis and other research, first voiced by Nathan Cofnas, a US researcher whose own role at Cambridge was terminated after controversial remarks. Cofnas claimed plagiarism detection software found "many passages are lifted with minimal editing". A subsequent investigation by Liverpool John Moores University did not uphold the charges but attributed them to "honest and reasonable error".
More recently, The Telegraph reported over 100 passages in Mr Arday's PhD were similar to a thesis by Brunel student Paula Zwozdiak-Myers. John Preston, emeritus professor at Essex, told The Guardian: "Having seen the evidence, it triangulates and there is, in my judgment, a case to answer here." Mr Arday denied all accusations, citing multiple investigations that found no misconduct.
Other claims and resignation
Mr Arday has also faced scrutiny over claims of running feats, including 30 marathons in 35 days and raising £5.5 million for charity, which he later revised. He claimed visiting fellowships at Ohio State University, which denied employing him. He reported threats, including knife-wielding intruders and a severed pig's head delivered to his parents' home, but investigations found no evidence to support these claims.
In his resignation letter, Mr Arday said: "The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love." He added that stepping away was the only way to end the chapter, but asserted, "This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship... Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me." He said he needed "time to heal" and would return.
University response
Cambridge initially defended Prof Arday, calling allegations a "vile campaign to undermine his credibility". However, on Wednesday, it began an investigation "following new information". A statement acknowledged ongoing complaints regarding academic misconduct and stressed the importance of thorough processes. Jesus College, where Prof Arday is a fellow, launched its own parallel process, with a spokesperson saying, "Prof Arday remains a fellow during this process. We recognise that this is a very difficult time for him and his family, and ask that they are treated with compassion and respect."
