Dr. Kuo-Chun Chen This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. Experiment in frustration (Metro Times Detroit)

   www.metrotimes.com/19/32/Featu - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/12/1999   Last Visited: 12/11/2003

   Kuo-Chun Chen with a diagram of his missing machine in the background.
   ...
   A younger Chen, above, and now, outside the Natural Science building at WSU. He says of WSU: "They ruin my professional reputation."
   ...
   "I very emotional, you see," says Dr. Kuo-Chun Chen, who teaches in Wayne State University's biology department.
   ...
   Chen is suing WSU, alleging discrimination based on his ethnicity and age. He accuses the university of denying him a promotion, taking away his lab and office space, and attempting to revoke his tenure when he refused to retire. The most astonishing allegation is that WSU lost his patented invention that had the potential to analyze the effect of microwave radiation on cancer cells - and which a Chinese company offered to purchase for $1.75 million.
   
   Two years ago, when WSU tried to prevent him from teaching - which he considers part of his Christian duty - Chen filed the lawsuit against WSU in Wayne County Circuit Court. Though Chen would never put it so bluntly, the lawsuit suggests that a lot went into pissing off the seemingly passive professor.
   
   For instance, biology department administrators contend in court documents that they took away Chen's classes because his prominent accent prevented him from being an effective teacher. Chen claims more insidious motives were at work. The lawsuit alleges that a colleague, Professor John Taylor, wielded his power as chairman of the department to undermine Chen and directed subsequent chairs to do the same.
   ...
   By the age of 14, when Chen left Fujian on the Chinese mainland for Taiwan, he had seen the destruction of World War II bombings and China's communist revolution.
   
   "I did not consider it a hardship," says Chen about leaving his family and four siblings to study at National Taiwan University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1954.
   ...
   "My father and mother had to come out and be judged by a group of people and tell whether they have done something disloyal to the government," explains Chen. "At that time, any family member who has anything to do with the United States they treat like a spy."
   
   Though Chen neither saw his parents again before they passed away nor recognized his siblings when he returned to his homeland three decades later, he does not regret leaving China to pursue his education. "Anything I get, I try to appreciate and not take for granted," says Chen. "When people do for me, I never forget, that's my life."
   
   While his parents were suffering, Chen thrived, earning his Ph.D. in molecular genetics at Columbia University, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Rochester. "I get the best professors in my field," says Chen, still thankful for the guidance and encouragement that helped launch his career.
   
   In Rochester, under the direction of Dr. Arnold Ravin, Chen published six papers between 1965 and 1968 on his innovative research in molecular genetics.
   ...
   "Our collaboration was very good one," says Chen, who speaks highly of Ravin.
   ...
   In a letter to WSU recommending Chen for a position, Ravin wrote of Chen's command of literature in his field and said that "his own research will undoubtedly be brought to bear on the important issues of his field.
   ...
   Though other universities and medical schools offered teaching and research positions, Chen chose WSU's biology department in 1968. He says he wanted to help modernize the urban university's then antiquated science programs to repay the country that made it possible for him to leave Taiwan.
   
   "I want to give back to the society," explains Chen, whose accent initially makes it difficult to understand him. "I have been unlucky in some way in my life, and other way, such privilege, like in my education."
   
   Chen relocated his wife, Joanna, and two young children, Sanford and June, to Detroit.
   ...
   Chen is without question the outstanding scholar in the department of biology." He went on to say that Chen's "research is a frontier area and he is at the very edge of the frontier. If WSU can provide the proper environment, there is no question that Dr. Chen in very few years will rank as one of the world's great molecular geneticists."
   
   Initially his career flourished. Between 1971 and 1978, Chen published six papers and lectured on his work around the country and abroad, according to court records. A 4-inch binder contains letters from German, Russian, Israeli and other scientists inquiring about Chen's research and seeking permission to republish papers. Chen received research grants totaling nearly $600,000, served on university and Ph.D. candidate committees, and taught at least one class a semester. And he did all of this while keeping up his volunteer obligations in his community. He says that he sat on several public education boards, served as a church president, and helped coordinate a scientific exchange program between two local hospitals and China.
   
   "I think everyone should also pay attention to things outside our own regular job … to take care of someone they don't know," says Chen.
   ...
   The award allowed Chen to study at the University of Cambridge in England for one year. Though many of his colleagues at WSU congratulated him, he says, Taylor, then chairman of the biology department, did not.
   
   "He never want me to be successful," says Chen, looking a little wounded 21 years later.
   
   It was when Chen returned to WSU after his year sabbatical at Cambridge that his troubles began.
   
   "Smoking gun"?
   
   Sitting with his attorney in a meeting room at her office, Chen pulls red-, blue- and beige-colored folders from his leather briefcase. Each contains meticulously organized documents, a small portion of the hundreds he has accumulated in 30 years at WSU. Like a good scientist who formulates a hypothesis and sets out to prove it, Chen argues that WSU wronged him and presents his papers as evidence. "Everything I do, I document," he says. "I have a very scholarly mind."
   
   But Chen does not simply exhibit scholarly devotion to his case; he is something of a fanatic, not unlike many plaintiffs locked in discrimination suits with employers. The plaintiffs often retell the same facts as if elucidating new revelations. Chen is no different. Minute details are repeated with the same fervor as critical ones. And among his hundreds of papers, he can put his hand on the exact one requested at any given moment.
   ...
   By the time of the letter, a feud was brewing between Chen and Lilien.
   ...
   To Chen, the letter confirms that his success threatened Taylor.
   ...
   Chen and Mirer say that Taylor never recovered from this.
   ...
   Dr. Chen was one of these individuals."
   ...
   Chen is extremely motivated."
   ...
   "It seems to be a problem he had with Chen from day one, that he was going to … keep him down," says Mirer, who describes the letter as "condescending as shit."
   ...
   Chen appealed to the then dean of the college, but was told in a letter that to make a unilateral decision regarding the promotion would violate WSU policy.
   
   According to university policy, Chen could have pursued other avenues, but he didn't.
   ...
   Chen says he was discouraged and did not pursue becoming a full professor.
   
   "I felt helpless after talking to the dean," says Chen. "I just continued to do my research."
   
   But it wasn't easy. According to the lawsuit, Taylor regularly referred to Chen as a member of the "Chinese Mafia," and did not support him in getting merit raises despite his exceptional work.
   ...
   To this day, Chen, the second most senior faculty member along with Taylor, is one of the lowest paid members of the biology department.
   ...
   Around 1981, Chen began suffering from an irregular heartbeat and says that he fainted a few times during class; a hereditary heart condition was aggravated by work stress, he says. Though this slowed him down some, he continued his research and managed to patent his electromagnetic radiation device in 1982. His invention was intended to analyze the effect of microwave radiation on cancer cells; his dream was to help to find a cure for cancer.
   
   "How to better people and benefit society always on my mind," says Chen.
   ...
   Joanna's family, which owns a metal fabricating company, provided the materials; Lou, an electrical engine

2. 2. Experiment in frustration (Metro Times Detroit)

   www.metrotimes.com/19/32/Featu - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/9/2001   Last Visited: 5/9/2001

   Kuo-Chun Chen with a diagram of his missing machine in the background
   
   If we don't put society and people first , science is meaningless..
   
   ...
   I very emotional , you see , says Dr. Kuo-Chun Chen , who teaches in Wayne State University's biology department. A person struggle to do things and then be stripped of everything..
   
   When the 64-year-old doctor of molecular genetics came to Detroit 30 years ago , his career seemed ripe with promise. His groundbreaking research was published in prominent genetics journals ; scientists around the world inquired about his findings and showered him with accolades , awards and lecture invitations.
   
   But his success petered out. His research waned , he published few papers , and he received fewer and fewer grants and awards. Chen blames WSU. Chen is suing WSU , alleging discrimination based on his ethnicity and age. He accuses the university of denying him a promotion , taking away his lab and office space , and attempting to revoke his tenure when he refused to retire. The most astonishing allegation is that WSU lost his patented invention that had the potential to analyze the effect of microwave radiation on cancer cells - and which a Chinese company offered to purchase for $ 1.75 million.
   
   Two years ago , when WSU tried to prevent him from teaching - which he considers part of his Christian duty - Chen filed the lawsuit against WSU in Wayne County Circuit Court. Though Chen would never put it so bluntly , the lawsuit suggests that a lot went into pissing off the seemingly passive professor.
   
   For instance , biology department administrators contend in court documents that they took away Chen's classes because his prominent accent prevented him from being an effective teacher. Chen claims more insidious motives were at work. The lawsuit alleges that a colleague , Professor John Taylor , wielded his power as chairman of the department to undermine Chen and directed subsequent chairs to do the same.
   ...
   I did not consider it a hardship , says Chen about leaving his family and four siblings to study at National Taiwan University , where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1954. Some people don't do things because too hard ; I don't. I want to make a difference..
   
   His next stop , thanks to a U.S.-sponsored scholarship , was Virginia State University , where he earned his master's degree in genetics. The slight man with lines running along his smooth skin saw America as the land of opportunity , particularly in contrast to the oppression he had escaped.
   
   ...
   My father and mother had to come out and be judged by a group of people and tell whether they have done something disloyal to the government , explains Chen. At that time , any family member who has anything to do with the United States they treat like a spy..
   
   Though Chen neither saw his parents again before they passed away nor recognized his siblings when he returned to his homeland three decades later , he does not regret leaving China to pursue his education. Anything I get , I try to appreciate and not take for granted , says Chen. When people do for me , I never forget , that's my life..
   
   While his parents were suffering , Chen thrived , earning his Ph.D. in molecular genetics at Columbia University , followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Rochester. I get the best professors in my field , says Chen , still thankful for the guidance and encouragement that helped launch his career.
   
   In Rochester , under the direction of Dr. Arnold Ravin , Chen published six papers between 1965 and 1968 on his innovative research in molecular genetics. Our collaboration was very good one , says Chen , who speaks highly of Ravin.
   ...
   Though other universities and medical schools offered teaching and research positions , Chen chose WSU's biology department in 1968. He says he wanted to help modernize the urban university's then antiquated science programs to repay the country that made it possible for him to leave Taiwan.
   
   I want to give back to the society , explains Chen , whose accent initially makes it difficult to understand him. I have been unlucky in some way in my life , and other way , such privilege , like in my education..
   
   Chen relocated his wife , Joanna , and two young children , Sanford and June , to Detroit. He says that Dr. Dominic DeGiusti , then chairman of the biology department , readily welcomed him.
   ...
   Between 1971 and 1978 , Chen published six papers and lectured on his work around the country and abroad , according to court records. A 4-inch binder contains letters from German , Russian , Israeli and other scientists inquiring about Chen's research and seeking permission to republish papers. Chen received research grants totaling nearly $ 600 , 000 , served on university and Ph.D. candidate committees , and taught at least one class a semester. And he did all of this while keeping up his volunteer obligations in his community. He says that he sat on several public education boards , served as a church president , and helped coordinate a scientific exchange program between two local hospitals and China.
   
   I think everyone should also pay attention to things outside our own regular job … to take care of someone they don't know , says Chen. That make me feel very happy and real American , that is American value..
   
   The National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) acknowledged his work in 1978 with the prestigious John E. Fogarty Senior International Fellow Award.
   ...
   The award allowed Chen to study at the University of Cambridge in England for one year. Though many of his colleagues at WSU congratulated him , he says , Taylor , then chairman of the biology department , did not.
   
   He never want me to be successful , says Chen , looking a little wounded 21 years later.
   
   It was when Chen returned to WSU after his year sabbatical at Cambridge that his troubles began.
   
   Smoking gun.
   
   Sitting with his attorney in a meeting room at her office , Chen pulls red- , blue- and beige-colored folders from his leather briefcase. Each contains meticulously organized documents , a small portion of the hundreds he has accumulated in 30 years at WSU. Like a good scientist who formulates a hypothesis and sets out to prove it , Chen argues that WSU wronged him and presents his papers as evidence. Everything I do , I document , he says. I have a very scholarly mind..
   
   But Chen does not simply exhibit scholarly devotion to his case ; he is something of a fanatic , not unlike many plaintiffs locked in discrimination suits with employers. The plaintiffs often retell the same facts as if elucidating new revelations. Chen is no different. Minute details are repeated with the same fervor as critical ones. And among his hundreds of papers , he can put his hand on the exact one requested at any given moment.
   
   Chen turns over a three-page letter Taylor wrote in 1996 , which his attorney refers to as the smoking gun. It is an evaluation of Chen's performance during Taylor's 13 years as chairman ( 1974-1987 ) , and it was written to Jack Lilien , who had taken over as chairman in 1994. By the time of the letter , a feud was brewing between Chen and Lilien.
   
   ...
   Chen appealed to the then dean of the college , but was told in a letter that to make a unilateral decision regarding the promotion would violate WSU policy.
   
   According to university policy , Chen could have pursued other avenues , but he didn't.
   
   Hiro Mizukami has been teaching in WSU's biology department since 1965 and is its most senior faculty member. Mizukami says he simply doubts Chen is full professor material..
   
   Just being talented doesn't mean anything , says Mizukami. You have to publish papers , bring in grants , teach and advise Ph.D. students. He says Chen has not been active in the department for years : I think he was sort of active when he came to the school ... and drifted away from research..
   
   ...
   Chen says he was discouraged and did not pursue becoming a full professor.
   
   I felt helpless after talking to the dean , says Chen. I just continued to do my research..
   
   But it wasn't easy. According to the lawsuit , Taylor regularly referred to Chen as a member of the Chinese Mafia , and did not support him in getting merit raises despite his exceptional work. To this day , Chen , the second most senior faculty member along with Taylor , is one of the lowest paid members of the biology department.
   ...
   Around 1981 , Chen began suffering fr