Duke University to Face Jury Trial Over Allegations of Retaliation Following Researcher’s Sexual Assault Report

A jury will decide if Duke University retaliated against a researcher by launching a data investigation days after she reported a sexual assault by her boss.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 7:14 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The News & Observer

A Decades-Long Career Ends in Legal Conflict

Dr. Brahmajothi Mulugu, a scientist who dedicated 25 years to researching brain and blood health at Duke University, is currently embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle with her former employer. The conflict centers on events that unfolded in early 2020, involving allegations of extreme professional misconduct and sexual violence. Mulugu’s lawsuit claims that her reporting of sexual harassment and a physical assault by her supervisor, Dr. Mohamed Abou-donia, triggered a chain of events that effectively dismantled her career. Although Mulugu originally filed claims involving age, race, and sexual discrimination, a federal judge has determined that the retaliation claim is the primary issue that must be decided by a jury.

Allegations of Sexual Violence and Harassment

The root of the complaint involves harrowing details regarding Mulugu’s working relationship with Abou-donia, who died in 2023. Mulugu alleges that starting in 2019, she was subjected to persistent sexual harassment, including verbal propositions and a physical incident where her supervisor reportedly blocked a laboratory door and forced her to touch him. Internal investigations by Duke’s Office of Internal Equity later found evidence supporting the occurrence of the harassment described by Mulugu. However, the legal dispute shifted from the harassment itself to the university's administrative response following her formal report on February 28, 2020.

The "Temporal Proximity" of the Data Investigation

The central point of contention for the upcoming trial is the timing of a separate investigation into Mulugu’s research integrity. Just nine days after she reported the sexual assault, Duke officials informed her of an inquiry into her data management practices and confiscated her laptop. This investigation ultimately led to the termination of her federally funded grants, the retraction of three published academic papers, and her eventual dismissal from the university. While Duke argues the data investigation was initiated one day prior to her report, Judge Catherine Eagles noted that the "temporal proximity" of these events allows for a reasonable inference of causation.