Michigan State Initiated Termination of Chemist
The university began proceedings to remove Selvan Demir following an investigation into student safety policy compliance.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Chemistry
Michigan State University initiated a termination process for chemistry professor Selvan Demir in August 2026. This action follows an investigation into whether Demir and a mentor interfered with injury reporting after a 2021 lab explosion.
Why it matters
The university is examining allegations regarding the failure to follow safety policies, marking a significant administrative response to past laboratory incidents. These internal proceedings highlight the ongoing scrutiny regarding research conduct and student welfare at the institution.
Two graduate students were injured in a 2021 laboratory explosion. While an outside investigator raised concerns about injury reporting, university safety officers reported no major safety violations in the lab following that event.
The players
Selvan Demir
She is a professor at Michigan State University currently facing termination amid an investigation into research safety culture.
Michigan State University
The institution is a public research university in East Lansing that is conducting an internal investigation into its chemistry department.
The details
Michigan State placed Selvan Demir on administrative leave and removed her from her building in March 2026 before launching a formal probe into the chemistry department. The university subsequently froze her pay in September 2026 and suspended her research grants while the investigation continues.
Timeline
A lab explosion occurred in 2021, injuring two graduate students.
Selvan Demir was placed on administrative leave in March 2026.
Michigan State began a termination process in August 2026.
The university stopped Selvan Demir’s salary in September 2026.
The Big Picture
This administrative action follows the 2021 Michigan State University chemistry lab explosion and extends the institution's ongoing review of laboratory safety culture. It signals a shift in how the university manages faculty oversight following past safety-related controversies.
The suspension of research grants and faculty status may impact the availability of specific chemistry projects and local laboratory operations. Students and researchers in the department should anticipate potential shifts in laboratory access and project supervision timelines.
The takeaway
The university's move to terminate a faculty member demonstrates the high stakes of maintaining student safety protocols in academic settings. Institutions remain under intense pressure to reconcile research goals with the legal and ethical requirements of injury reporting.
Further reading
For broader context on current departmental research and safety policies, visit the Chemistry section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CHE.
