Satchin Panda, a high-profile circadian biologist at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, is resigning from his faculty post amid the institute’s response to a workplace misconduct complaint. Salk officials say they are reviewing reports that were filed earlier this year, and Panda is set to formally step down on Aug. 13.
According to reporting by The San Diego Union‑Tribune, a staff research assistant raised concerns through the institute’s official channels in March. That complaint triggered a human resources review, and Panda was placed on administrative leave. The outlet also reports that a researcher who had worked in Panda’s laboratory voluntarily left the institute while the inquiry was underway.
Panda’s research and profile
Panda is known internationally for his work on circadian rhythms and on time-restricted eating studies that have drawn broad public interest and outside funding. His Salk biography highlights a long track record of basic and translational research on biological clocks and metabolism, with his lab serving as a visible part of the institute’s scientific portfolio. Per the Salk Institute, Panda’s group has run clinical and animal studies that helped popularize eating-window interventions in metabolism research, per Salk Institute.
What Salk and Panda have said
The institute has confirmed to reporters that it is responding to a workplace misconduct complaint filed with human resources and that Panda has been placed on leave while the matter is reviewed. The San Diego Union‑Tribune reports that Panda has denied the allegations and has said he is committed to maintaining a professional, respectful workplace.
Institutional context and past controversies
The Salk Institute has dealt with high-profile workplace culture battles before. In 2018, an investigation involving a senior scientist and that scientist’s resignation drew national attention and invited deeper scrutiny of how Salk handled harassment and discrimination complaints. Coverage at the time detailed the episode and subsequent legal disputes. The Scientist and later reporting by the Los Angeles Times documented those earlier controversies and related settlements…