Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (JUST) has dismissed its chief scientist, Guo Wei, after an internal inquiry found “serious academic misconduct” and suspected misuse of state research funds. The university, which has long been central to China’s naval development, confirmed that police are now handling the case. SCMP reported that Guo’s academic profile has been wiped from the university’s website and that he was removed from campus in September.
A decorated career built on cutting-edge research
For years, Guo was presented as a rising star in materials science. JUST — established in 1953 to strengthen China’s shipbuilding capabilities — highlighted his work on deep-sea and aerospace technologies. SCMP reported that Guo’s team developed an ultra-low-temperature titanium alloy capable of withstanding minus 250 degrees Celsius, a material already used on seven deep-sea exploration vessels. He was also linked to projects ranging from the Jiaolong submersible to China’s lunar programme.In interviews, he portrayed himself as the top science student in Shaanxi in 1994, later studying at Xian Jiaotong University, the University of Wollongong and Kyushu University, before working in Germany as a chief engineer and serving as a member of Leopoldina, the German national academy. He also claimed to have won top national science awards and contributed to leading international journals.
Claims collapse under scrutiny
According to SCMP, much of this collapsed once researchers and social media users began checking his record. Public documents show the 1994 top-scoring student in Shaanxi was someone else. Judy Raper, whom Guo said he worked under in Australia, joined Wollongong eight years after he claimed to have left. His name does not appear on Leopoldina’s membership list, nor on the editorial boards he cited. Even the Nature Materials paper he boasted about appears nonexistent.Further reporting suggested Guo had actually run several materials-related companies in China, some of which later lost their licences. The alleged fraud may have come to light when he applied to become a Chinese academician earlier this year.The scandal has sparked widespread criticism of recruitment standards at Chinese research institutions. One researcher told SCMP, “It’s hard to understand how a high school graduate could deceive officials and students for two years.” Critics online argued that basic peer review during hiring would have prevented the affair. JUST has not commented further as the investigation continues.
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