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Concerns about the integrity of Pruitt's research first publicly emerged in
January 2020. In February 2020, McMaster University announced that it was reviewing 17 of his publications, and 23 journals were reviewing publications by Pruitt. By February 7, seven papers authored by Pruitt had been
205:
In early 2020, some of Pruitt's research was identified as having data irregularities, and Pruitt was alleged to have manipulated data. An investigation by McMaster found that he had "engaged in fabrication and falsification.” In 2021 it was reported that Pruitt "had a dozen papers retracted
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retracted or were in the process of being retracted. Pruitt responded to the allegations by stating that the irregularities in his data were mistakes, and he obtained legal counsel who cautioned journals and coauthors not to retract papers until institutional investigations were complete.
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In 2020, UT Knoxville "withdrew" Pruitt‘s dissertation. In
November 2021, Pruitt was placed on a paid administrative leave by McMaster, and in July 2022 he resigned from his university position. As of 2022 Pruitt was a Florida high school science teacher.
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Pruitt was raised in
Central Florida. He attended Polk Community College, now Polk State College, and subsequently continued his studies at the University of South Florida and University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
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following allegations of data fraud" and that his doctoral dissertation had also been withdrawn. He resigned from McMaster in 2022 after receiving confidential settlement terms.
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Center for
Population Biology under the supervision of Andy Sih and Jay Stachowicz and was hired as an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the
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Pennisi, Elizabeth (12 March 2020). "Embattled spider biologist seeks to delay additional retractions of problematic papers".
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578:"Dr. Jonathan Pruitt to Join Biological Sciences | Department of Biological Sciences | University of Pittsburgh"
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202:. Pruitt's research focused primarily on animal personalities and the social behavior of spiders and other organisms.
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603:(31 January 2020). "Spider biologist denies suspicions of widespread data fraud in his animal personality research".
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271:, who were also considered rising stars in their fields before the discovery of their fraudulent publications.
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918:"Disgraced McMaster scientist Jonathan Pruitt publishes fantasy novel in aftermath of research scandal"
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As of 2023, Pruitt has had 15 of his research publications retracted, 11 other papers have received an
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770:"Sociality in the Spider Anelosimus studiosus: Behavioral Correlates and Adaptive Consequences"
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390:"Authors questioning papers at nearly two dozen journals in wake of spider paper retraction"
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816:"As data probe concludes, spider biologist placed on leave, has Ph.D. thesis 'withdrawn'"
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and then, in 2018, to McMaster
University. His research was funded by the
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795:"Behavioral ecologist Jonathan Pruitt's PhD dissertation withdrawn"
455:"McMaster University researcher under fire for data irregularities"
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is a former academic researcher. He was an
Associate Professor of
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333:"How a scandal in spider biology upended researchers' lives"
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and Canada 150 Research Chair in
Biological Dystopias at
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842:"Embattled spider biologist resigns university post"
964:People involved in scientific misconduct incidents
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146:: Behavioral Correlates and Adaptive Consequences
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286:In 2023, Pruitt published a dark fantasy novel,
979:University of California, Santa Barbara faculty
774:TRACE Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange
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278:, and four other papers have been corrected.
916:Reporter, Jon Wells Spectator (2023-10-03).
714:"Top Spider Biologist's Research Under Fire"
438:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
414:Chairs, Canada 150 Research (2017-05-08).
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959:Academic staff of McMaster University
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231:. Pruitt completed a postdoc at the
227:(since retracted) under his advisor
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776:. University of Tennessee Knoxville
223:Pruitt received a doctorate at the
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994:University of South Florida alumni
867:"Social Spiders and Science Fraud"
420:www.canada150.chairs-chaires.gc.ca
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225:University of Tennessee, Knoxville
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898:. Center for Scientific Integrity
567:, Pruitt Lab, McMaster University
488:. Center for Scientific Integrity
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984:University of Pittsburgh faculty
388:Marcus, Adam (29 January 2020).
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16:American behavioral ecologist
416:"Canada 150 Research Chairs"
263:Pruitt has been compared to
169:Other academic advisors
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892:"Retraction Watch Database"
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245:National Science Foundation
239:in 2011. He later moved to
65:University of South Florida
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969:American arachnologists
748:10.1126/science.abb7068
718:The Scientist Magazine®
613:10.1126/science.abb1258
60:University of Tennessee
922:The Hamilton Spectator
276:expression of concern
814:Pennisi, Elizabeth.
639:500 Queer Scientists
582:www.biology.pitt.edu
514:500 Queer Scientists
192:Jonathan Neal Pruitt
144:Anelosimus studiosus
33:Jonathan Neal Pruitt
1009:American ecologists
682:2020Natur.578..199V
349:2022Natur.608..658K
251:Data irregularities
200:McMaster University
109:McMaster University
803:, 11 November 2021
601:Pennisi, Elizabeth
563:2021-05-07 at the
558:Jonathan N. Pruitt
460:The Globe and Mail
196:behavioral ecology
151:(2010 (withdrawn))
88:Behavioral ecology
871:Discover Magazine
676:(7794): 199–200.
635:"Jonathan Pruitt"
510:"Jonathan Pruitt"
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269:Jan Hendrik Schön
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902:2023-04-17
851:2022-07-12
827:2021-11-16
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544:2021-12-28
539:The Ledger
519:2021-12-28
492:2023-05-11
466:2020-10-21
425:2020-08-29
315:References
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