Resigned after allegations: Simone Fulda, President of the Cristian Albrechts University in Kiel
Image: dpa
Simone Fulda was dropped as university president after the Kiel cluster applications failed. Because of the accusation of manipulating scientific data, it no longer seemed viable.
ZThe resignation of Kiel University President Simone Fulda could hardly have come at a worse time. A good two weeks ago, all three application outlines for new clusters of excellence at the Christian Albrechts University (CAU) were unsuccessful, so Kiel now has to keep both existing clusters in order to have any chance of being included in the excellence strategy. Now the president announced her resignation at the weekend. “It is with responsibility for the university and with a heavy heart that I am taking this step because, unfortunately, parts of the university no longer have sufficient trust for successful collaboration,” said the 55-year-old pediatric oncologist, who has previously enjoyed an excellent reputation in science.
She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and has published many scientific publications. Fulda has headed the university since 2020 and has significantly advanced the internationally visible research profile and strengthened the regional anchoring of the CAU, according to a statement from the university. In fact, a lack of internationality was one reason why the CAU failed in the first round of the excellence strategy and missed excellence status despite successfully winning two clusters. Fulda was chosen to lead the CAU to success in the excellence strategy. She has made the goal of being successful as a university in the Excellence Strategy her mission as president.