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Shine a light on issues that matter—support local news with your gift today. IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa neuroscientist Dr. Calvin Carter says he was unfairly singled out in coverage of a recent state audit that found nearly $295,000 in improperly spent research funds, arguing that systemic failures in university oversight played a central role in the matter. Carter, who was placed on administrative leave during the university's internal review and subsequent audit, told DecorahNews.com in an interview this week that the public narrative surrounding the report has mischaracterized his actions and overlooked broader institutional responsibilities. "Out of all the news stations and reports that I've seen based on the audit, DecorahNews.com, I think, got it pretty accurate," Carter said. "You didn't have these sensational headlines that I stole money or any of that, which is not based on the facts of the audit report." The audit from the Iowa Auditor of State's Office identified improper or unsupported expenses linked to Carter's research activity, including animal purchases, legal services and technology-related items. Carter noted that the concerns stem from a period when he was a postdoctoral trainee, not a faculty member, and that the issues could have been resolved with a conversation. "These issues that came up in the audit, these were all during my time as a trainee," he said. "In retrospect, seeing what the audit focuses on, all of these issues could have been addressed with a simple email or a phone call for that matter, in which we just clear it up." Carter said he was "in the dark for two years" during the university's internal review process and was not given the opportunity to respond in real time. "It's still unclear what led up to this point, what initiated this," he said. "But after it got started, the ball was already rolling, and I wasn't provided with an opportunity to really address that in detail." In his view, the situation reveals broader institutional shortcomings in policy communication and research administration. "We rely on our administrators to support this. And the work that we do, we cannot do this without administrative support. They are critical in what we do," Carter said. "We've seen communications between senior administrators explicitly stating that they do not expect faculty, senior faculty to know all of the ins and outs of university policies. Because in their words, it's 'very complex and these policies are ever changing.'" He said those challenges are even greater for postdoctoral researchers and graduate students still learning how to navigate academic systems. "I think that's doubly the case when it comes to trainees who are still learning how to do science," Carter said. "It really gets complex really quickly. So I think training there and more guidance and support is helpful." Despite the fallout, Carter said he remains committed to research and is optimistic that the university can improve its systems to prevent future problems. "My job as a scientist is to do science, is to do work that improves the lives of Iowans and Americans and people across the world," he said. "We each play our role. Administrators play a very important role in writing and implementing policies and educating faculty on those policies." Carter said he hopes the episode results in meaningful changes at the University of Iowa and beyond. "I hope this goes down as an example of why we need to communicate and collaborate more efficiently... and improve that communication between staff, faculty, trainees and administration," he said. "Being on leave for two years outside of the lab, I've not been able to do science, do what I love, and do what I'm very good at... to improve people's lives." Carter also urged the public to read the audit report for themselves to see the truth of the matter, pointing to a specific line in the report: "It does not appear these funds were put towards personal use. They all appear to have been in the furtherance of research Dr. Carter was doing. The University should have noticed this sooner. Some of these are invoices that were submitted to the University by Dr. Carter." "I think this audit process... and the solutions that come from this will hopefully make things work smoothly so that this does not happen again," Carter said. "Never a dull moment! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and stay one step ahead with local news and information you just can't get anywhere else.

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University of Iowa Scientist Says Media Misrepresented His Role, Cites Systemic Failures