The Journal of Vibration and Control, a peer-reviewed academic journal, retracted 60 papers submitted by a Taiwanese researcher because he might have corrupted the peer-review process used by the publication.
The researcher involved was Chen Yuan Chen of the National Pingtung University of Education who had been submitting papers to the publication for four years.
Initial investigation found out that Chen allegedly created 130 fake email accounts that he utilized in reviewing his own scientific papers. The London-based publisher SAGE spent 14 months gathering evidences.
The New York Times reported that Chen created a "peer-review and citation ring," composed of fake experts, as well as real scientists who were not aware that they were part of the studies. The investigators also discovered that he once reviewed his own paper through one of the aliases he created.
Chen Chien-huang, secretary of the National Pingtung University of Education, responded through email that the university has also begun their own investigation of the case.
"We are continuing to investigate according to the materials just publicized by JVC," the email said.
The university officials wanted to find out if there were other professors involved in this fraudulent act. Chen, on the other hand, is nowhere to be found and cannot even be reached for comments.
The misconduct was first observed by the former editor of the journal, Ali F. Nayfeh, who resigned from the publication in May. He immediately contacted the university but wasn't able to speak with Chen as confirmed by a spokeswoman for SAGE.
Meanwhile, the Retraction Watch, a blog that reports on retractions of scientific papers, told the Los Angeles Times that "This one deserves a 'wow."
This latest science journal fraud case is nothing new. Earlier this month, another science journal Nature retracted two Japanese studies authored by Haruko Obokata that discussed a simple way to create master stem cells for disease treatment due to data flaws and questionable methodology.
