A Virginia Tech professor has been accused of defrauding the university, National Science Foundation (NSF), and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) of more than $1 million of funds. Dr. Yiheng Percival Zhang, a professor at the school’s department of biological systems engineering, allegedly used Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funds from both NSF and DOE to support a biofuel technology startup, receiving five awards totaling $1.1 million since February 2013. The charges against Dr. Zhang are numerous and include “false statements concerning time and effort reporting,” failing to provide Virginia Tech 30 percent of STTR funds as required by the program regulations and, most egregiously, receiving funds for a project that had been previously completed in China.

Zhang faces charges of “conspiracy to commit or defraud the United States,” in addition to “wire fraud, making criminal false claims and making false statements.” Dr. Zhang appeared in federal court on September 25 and is currently in custody.

To find out more about the charges against Dr. Zhang, click here. To find out how to use SBIR/STTR funding without breaking the law, click here. To find video guidance from the National Council of University Research Administrators on time and effort reporting and many other topic areas, click here.