Waseda University said Tuesday it will strip embattled researcher Haruko Obokata of her doctorate unless she corrects her dissertation, following her involvement in the scandal earlier this year related to research on so-called STAP cells.
Citing a serious fault in the dissertation screening process, the university gave Obokata a year to correct a number of irregularities, including the use of material from a U.S. website, meaning the 31-year-old researcher at the government-affiliated Riken institute will be able to retain her degree for the time being.
Obokata said she will comply with the university's decision and have her dissertation screened again after resubmitting it, according to her lawyer, Hideo Miki.