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James Hickman's Pioneering Research at UCF: Human-on-a-Chip Systems and Beyond

James J. Hickman is a prominent researcher at the University of Central Florida (UCF), known for his innovative work in bioengineering, particularly in the development of human-on-a-chip systems. His multidisciplinary approach, combining cell biology, surface chemistry, and engineering, has led to significant advancements in disease modeling, drug discovery, and toxicology testing. However, his career has also faced some controversies, including allegations of mishandling sexual harassment complaints.

The Hickman Lab: A Multidisciplinary Approach

The Hickman lab at UCF is a hub of interdisciplinary research, bringing together experts from diverse fields. Cell biologists and molecular biologists work to assess the functional performance of human cell types in defined in vitro environments. Engineers and surface chemists contribute their expertise in BioMEMS fabrication and surface modification to create platforms for assessing cellular activity and maturation. Dr. Hickman encourages theoretical exploration of problems that arise during the development of these novel systems. This allows the connection of theoretical and experimental sciences through mathematical simulation at the Hickman lab. Flow rates and shear stresses in microfluidic devices are carefully modeled prior to experimental analysis to ensure the best chances of success when physical testing begins.

This collaborative environment fosters innovation and allows the lab to tackle complex challenges in biomedical engineering. A broad and extensive understanding of what constitutes state-of-the-art in the field of bioengineering and drug discovery allows them to push towards the next step in development of these models.

Research Focus: Human-on-a-Chip Systems

Dr. Hickman's research primarily revolves around the creation of functional human-on-a-chip systems. These systems are designed to mimic the complex interactions of human organs and tissues in a controlled in vitro environment. The Hickman lab has been heavily involved in integrating biological and cell-based systems with MEMS devices, primarily microelectronic devices. These microphysiological systems serve as test-beds for investigating a wide range of diseases, including:

  • Spinal cord repair
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Diabetes
  • Malaria

The lab's work extends to creating new test-beds of functional human-on-a-chip systems to investigate these diseases.

Read also: Explore Polk's career before presidency

Key Innovations and Contributions

Dr. Hickman's lab has made several significant contributions to the field of bioengineering:

  1. Defined Culture Systems: Dr. Hickman published the first serum-free, defined culture system for neuronal systems. He has extended this from rat to mouse, both embryonic and adult, as well as to human. These defined in vitro systems have now been extended to cardiac, muscle, endothelial, hepatocyte, cancer, kidney and epithelial cells as well as multiple combinations of different cell types, which has culminated by numerous publications of multi-organ systems to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of compounds for application in drug discovery, general toxicology and cosmetics.
  2. Integration with MEMS Devices: The Hickman lab has been heavily involved in integrating biological and cell-based systems with MEMS devices, primarily microelectronic devices.
  3. Multi-Organ Systems: The lab has developed multi-organ systems to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of compounds for drug discovery, general toxicology, and cosmetics.

One notable success is that Sanofi used efficacy data from one of the models to file the first IND utilizing a human-on-a-chip model that has enabled a clinical trial (#NCT04658472). This is described in a joint publication (Rumsey et al.).

Patents and Inventions

James Hickman has filed for patents to protect several inventions related to microfluidic systems, physiological devices, and cell culture methods. Some notable patents include:

  • Physiological Devices for Cardiac Evaluation: These devices and systems are used to evaluate cardiac parameters and arrhythmogenic mechanisms.
  • Microfluidic Systems with Recirculation: These systems feature recirculation of fluid and computer-implemented methods of calculating conditions within the microfluidic systems. The microfluidic systems include a computing device and a microfluidic device having first and second reservoirs, at least one chamber, and a fluid path connecting the first reservoir, the chamber, and the second reservoir. The methods for calculating conditions include receiving a first reservoir fluid volume, a second reservoir fluid volume, a first concentration, and a second concentration. The methods further include receiving a time-dependent imposed pressure difference between the first reservoir and the second reservoir, then determining a hydraulic pressure difference and an effective pressure difference.
  • Pumpless Microfluidic Systems: These systems mimic the interaction of organ systems with the immune system, allowing for the co-culturing of organ cells and immune cells under physiological conditions.
  • Cell Culture Analog Devices: These devices, systems and methods apply stimuli to components containing different cell types and record the cell responses before, during, and after a stimulus (for example, a drug, metabolite, toxin, or electrical stimulus) is introduced. Responses can be stored to a database and compared to previous results. By analyzing how each cell type responds to various stimulation parameters, for example, by using multivariate analyses, cell signaling pathway information can be determined or new pathways can be discovered. In some implementations, an individual component interfaces with a specific cell type. This facilitates readout of the cell response to the stimulation. Various components can also interface with each other, such that the behavior of one cell type can affect a cell type in another component.
  • Neuromuscular Junction Cantilevers: Devices comprising one or more cantilevers comprising one or more neuromuscular junctions formed by a co-culture of myotubes and motoneurons. Disclosed herein are methods of using the disclosed devices comprising one or more cantilevers.
  • Bio-MEMS Transducers: The invention discloses a bio-MEMS transducer comprising a cultured myotube and a piezoelectric microcantilever having the myotube attached thereto along a lengthwise extent of said microcantilever. The transducer may include an input/output processor operably connected with said piezoelectric microcantilever to process electrical signals received therefrom and to send electrical signals thereto. The invention may operate as a biosensor wherein the attached myotube contracts on contact with a sensed agent, the myotube contraction deflecting the microcantilever to generate a piezoelectric signal therefrom.
  • Methods for Co-culturing Muscle Cells and Motoneurons: The invention provides a method of co-culturing mammalian muscle cells and mammalian motoneurons.
  • Synthetic Neuromuscular Junctions: A method for forming neuromuscular junctions includes forming functional neuromuscular junctions between motoneurons and muscle cells by co-culturing one or more human motoneurons and one or more rat muscle cells in a substantially serum-free medium. A synthetic mammalian neuromuscular junction includes a human motoneuron functionally linked to a rat muscle cell in a substantially serum-free medium.
  • Model for Generating Predicted Action Potentials: The invention provides a model for generating predicted action potentials of an electrically active cell. The disclosed model includes three operatively coupled submodels. A first submodel contains Hodgkin-Huxley elements generating action potentials based on electrical equivalent circuits. A second submodel is based on reaction kinetics of cell metabolism and is operatively coupled with the first submodel. A third submodel is based on Boolean dynamics representing signaling and associated cellular processes and is operatively coupled with the first and second submodels.
  • Non-Contact Voltage Detector: A non-contact voltage detector for detecting and indicating voltage. The non-contact voltage detector includes a housing having a voltage detection probe and plurality of light sources. The housing further includes an integral power source that is rechargeable via an external power source coupled to a user input port. The power source provides electrical energy to the non-contact voltage detector that further includes a controller and control circuit that is operably connected to at least one light source. The controller and control circuit can detect electrical energy at the user input port, detect the charge state of the integral power source, charge the integral power source, and emit one or more charge state light indicators when the state of the integral power source changes.

Selected Publications

Dr. Hickman's extensive research has resulted in numerous publications in prestigious scientific journals. Some notable publications include:

  1. J.J. Hickman, C. Zou, D. Ofer, P.D. Harvey, M.S. Wrighton, P.E. Laibinis, C.D. Bain and G.M. Whitesides, “Combining Spontaneous Molecular Assembly with Microfabrication to Pattern Surfaces: Selective Binding of Isonitriles to Platinum Microwires and Characterization by Electrochemistry and Surface Spectroscopy,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.
  2. P.E. Laibinis, J.J. Hickman, M.S. Wrighton and G.M. Whitesides, “Orthogonal Self-Assembled Monolayers: Alkanethiols on Gold and Alkane Carboxylic Acids on Alumina,” Science 245, 845-847 (1989).
  3. N. Leventis, M.O. Schloh, M.J. Natan, J.J. Hickman and M.S. Wrighton, “Characterization of a “Solid-State” Microelectrochemical Diode Employing a Poly (vinyl alcohol)/Phosphoric Acid Solid-State Electrolyte: Rectification at Junctions between WO3 and Polyaniline,” Chem. Mat.
  4. J.J. Hickman, D. Ofer, C. Zou, M.S. Wrighton, P.E. Laibinis and G.M. Whitesides, “Selective Functionalization of Gold Microstructures with Ferrocenyl Derivatives via Reaction With Thiols or Disulfides: Characterization by Electrochemistry and Auger Electron Spectroscopy,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.
  5. J.J. Hickman, D. Ofer, P.E. Laibinis, G.M. Whitesides and M.S. Wrighton, “Molecular Self-Assembly on Microfabricated Structures: Application to the Selective Metallization of 1-µm Platinum Wires,” Science 252, 1016-1018 (1991).
  6. J.J. Hickman and M.S. Wrighton, “Face-Specific Interactions of Anionic Sulfur Donors with Oriented Crystals of (0001) CdX (X = Se, S) and Correlation with Electrochemical Properties,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.
  7. D.A. Kirkpatrick, G.L. Bergeron, M.A. Czarnaski, J.J. Hickman, M. Levinson, Q.V. Nguyen and B.M. Ditchek, “Measurements of Vacuum Field Emission from a Si-TaSi2 Semiconductor-Metal Eutectic Composite,” Appl. Phys. Lett.
  8. D.A. Kirkpatrick, G.L. Bergeron, M.A. Czarnaski, R.C. Davidson, H.P. Freund, J.J. Hickman, A. Mankofsky, K.T. Tsang, J.M. Schnur, M. Levinson and B.M. Ditchek, “High Brightness Electron Beam Sources for FEL Applications,” Nuclear Instrum. Meth. Phys. Res.
  9. J.J. Hickman, P.E. Laibinis, D.I. Auerbach, C. Zou, T.J. Gardner, G.M. Whitesides and M.S. Wrighton, “Organization of Cytochrome c on Self-Assembled Monolayers of ω-Hydroxyalkanethiols on Gold,” Langmuir 8, 357-359 (1992).
  10. J.H. Georger, Jr., D.A. Stenger, A.S. Rudolph, J.J. Hickman, C.S. Dulcey and T.L.

Other publications include:

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  • S.A. Najjar, A.S.T. Smith, C.J. Long, C.W. McAleer, Y. Cai, B. Srinivasan, C. Martin, H.H. Vandenburgh, and J.J. Hickman, “A Multiplexed In Vitro Assay System for Evaluating Human Skeletal Muscle Functionality in Response to Drug Treatment,” Biotechnol. Bioeng.
  • A. Colón, A. Badu-Mensah, X. Guo, A. Goswami and J.J. Hickman, “Differentiation of intrafusal fibers from human induced pluripotent stem cells,” ACS Chem. Neurosci.
  • C.P. Pires de Mello, C. Carmona-Moran, C. McAleer, J. Perez, E.A. Coln, C. Oleaga, A. Riu, R. Note, S. Teissier, J. Langer and J.J.
  • T. Sasserath, J. W. Rumsey, C. W. McAleer, L. R. Bridges, C. J. Long, D. Elbrecht, F. Schuler, A. Roth, C. Bertinetti-LaPatki, M. L. Shuler, J. J. Hickman, “Differential Monocyte Actuation in a Three-Organ Functional Innate Immune System-on-a-Chip,” Adv. Sci. 7:2000323 (2020).
  • J. Caneus, N. Akanda, J.W. Rumsey, X. Guo, M. Jackson, C.J. Long, F. Sommerhage, S. Georgieva, N. Kanaan, D. Morgan and J.J.
  • M.T. Schnepper, J. Roles and J.J.
  • A. Patel, J.W. Rumsey, C. Lorance, C.J. Long, B. Lee, L. Tetard, S. Lambert and J.J.
  • X. Guo, V. Smith, M. Jackson, M. Tran, M. Thomas, A. Patel, E. Lorusso, S. Nimbalkar, Y. Cai, C.W. McAleer, Y. Wang, C.J. Long and J.J. Hickman, “A human-based functional NMJ system for personalized ALS modeling and drug testing,” Adv.
  • X. Guo, A. Badu-Mensah, M.C. Thomas, C.W. McAleer,J.J.
  • M.T. Schnepper, J. Roles and J.J.
  • C. Oleaga, V. Platt, L.R. Bridges, K. Persaud, C. McAleer, C. Long and J.J.
  • A. Badu-Mensah, X. Guo，C. McAleer, J. Rumsey, J.J. Hickman, “Functional Skeletal Muscle Model Derived from SOD1-mutant ALS Patient iPSCs Recapitulates Hallmarks of Disease Progression,” Sci. Rep.
  • H. Wang, P.C. Brown, E.C.Y. Chow, L. Ewart, S.S. Ferguson, S. Fitzpatrick, B.S. Freedman, G. Guo, W. Hedrich, S. Heyward, J. Hickman, N. Isoherranen, A.P. Li, Q. Liu, S.M. Mumenthaler, J. Polli, W.R. Proctor, A.P. Ribeiro, J.-Y. Wang, and R.L. Wange and S.-M. Huang, “3D Cell Culture Models: Drug Pharmacokinetics, Safety Assessment, and Regulatory Consideration” Clinical and Translational Science 14(5): 1659-1680 (2021).
  • V.L. Slaughter, J.W. Rumsey, R. Boone, D. Malik, Y. Cai, N.N. Sriram, C.J. Long, C.W. McAleer, S. Lambert, M.L. Shuler and J.J.
  • A. Badu-Mensah, X. Guo and J.J.
  • V.M. Smith, H. Nyguen, J.W. Rumsey, C.J. Long, M.L. Shuler and J.J.
  • K. Autar, X. Guo, J.W. Rumsey, C. Long, N. Akanda, M. Jackson, N.S. Narasimhan, J. Caneus, D. Morgan, J.J.
  • J.W. Rumsey, C. Lorance, M. Jackson, T. Sasserath, C.W. McAleer, C.J. Long, A. Goswami, M.A. Russo, S.M. Raja, K.L. Gable, D. Emmett, L.D. Hobson-Webb, M. Chopra, J.F. Howard, Jr., J.T. Guptill, M.J. Storek, M. Alonso-Alonso, N. Atassi, S. Panicker, G. Parry, T. Hammond, J.J. Hickman, “Classical Complement Pathway Inhibition in a ‘Human-on-a-Chip’ Model of Autoimmune Demyelinating Neuropathies,” Advanced Therapeutics 2022:2200030 (2022).
  • T. Sasserath, A.L. Robertson, R. Mendez, T.T. Hays, E. Smith, H. Cooper, N. Akanda, J.W. Rumsey, X. Guo, M. Might, S. Rodems, K. Baumgaertel, M. Pradhan, W. Zheng, A. Farkhondeh and J.J. Hickman, “An induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NMJ platform for study of the NGLY1-Congenital Disorder of Deglycosylation,” Advanced Therapeutics, 2022: 2200009 (1-17) (2022).
  • A. Badu-Mensah, X. Guo, S. Nimbalkar, Y. Cai, J.J. Hickman. “ALS Mutations in Both Human Skeletal Muscle and Motoneurons Differentially Affects Neuromuscular Junction Integrity and Function,” Biomaterials, 289:121752 (2022).
  • A. Badu-Mensah P. Valinski, H. Parsaud, J.J. Hickman, X. Guo. “Hyperglycemia Negatively Affects IPSC-Derived Myoblast Proliferation and Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Function,” Cells, 11:3674 (2022).
  • X. Guo, N. Akanda, G. Fiorino, S. Nimbalkar, C.J. Long, A. Colon, A. Patel, P.J. Tighe, J.J. Hickman.
  • M.J. Rupar, T. Sasserath, E. Smith, B. Comiter, N. Sriram, C.J. Long, C.W. McAleer, J.J.
  • S. Nimbalkar, X. Guo, A. Colón, M. Jackson, N. Akanda, A. Patel, M. Grillo and J.J.
  • Guo X, Akanda N, Fiorino G, Nimbalkar S, Long CJ, Colón A, Patel A, Tighe PJ, Hickman JJ. Human IPSC-Derived PreBötC-Like Neurons and Development of an Opiate Overdose and Recovery Model. Adv Biol (Weinh). 2024 Aug;8(8):e2300276. doi: 10.1002/adbi.202300276. Epub 2023 Sep 7.
  • Badu-Mensah A, Guo X, Mendez R, Parsaud H, Hickman JJ. The Effect of Skeletal Muscle-Specific Creatine Treatment on ALS NMJ Integrity and Function. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Aug 31;24(17). doi: 10.3390/ijms241713519.
  • Jangir H, Hickman JJ. Mimicking the Tendon Microenvironment to Enhance Skeletal Muscle Adhesion and Longevity in a Functional Microcantilever Platform. ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2023 Aug 14;9(8):4698-4708. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00235. Epub 2023 Jul 18.
  • Rupar MJ, Sasserath T, Smith E, Comiter B, Sriram N, Long CJ, McAleer CW, Hickman JJ. Development of a human malaria-on-a-chip disease model for drug efficacy and off-target toxicity evaluation. Sci Rep. 2023 Jun 28;13(1):10509. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-35694-4.
  • Patel A, Poddar S, Nierenberg D, Lang S, Wang H, Pires DeMello CP, Gamarra J, Colon A, Kennedy P, Roles J, Klion J, Bogen W, Long C, Guo X, Tighe P, Schmidt S, Shuler ML, Hickman JJ. Microphysiological system to address the opioid crisis: A novel multi-organ model of acute opioid overdose and recovery. Curr Res Toxicol. 2025;8:100209. doi: 10.1016/j.crtox.2024.100209. eCollection 2025.
  • Caneus J, Autar K, Akanda N, Grillo M, Long CJ, Jackson M, Lindquist S, Guo X, Morgan D, Hickman JJ. Validation of a functional human AD model with four AD therapeutics utilizing patterned ipsc-derived cortical neurons integrated with microelectrode arrays. Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 22;14(1):24875. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-73869-9.
  • Patel A, Williams M, Hawkins K, Gallo L, Grillo M, Akanda N, Guo X, Lambert S, Hickman JJ. Establishment of a Serum-Free Human iPSC-Derived Model of Peripheral Myelination. ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2024 Nov 11;10(11):7132-7143. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c01431. Epub 2024 Oct 22.
  • Gallo LH, Akanda N, Autar K, Patel A, Cox I, Powell HA, Grillo M, Barakat N, Morgan D, Guo X, Hickman JJ. A functional aged human iPSC-cortical neuron model recapitulates Alzheimer’s disease, senescence, and the response to therapeutics. Alzheimers Dement. 2024 Sep;20(9):5940-5960. doi: 10.1002/alz.14044. Epub 2024 Jul 30.
  • Rupar MJ, Hanson H, Rogers S, Botlick B, Trimmer S, Hickman JJ. Modelling the innate immune system in microphysiological systems. Lab Chip. 2024 Jul 23;24(15):3604-3625. doi: 10.1039/d3lc00812f. Review.
  • Caneus J, Autar K, Akanda N, Grillo M, Long C, Jackson M, Lindquist S, Guo X, Morgan D, Hickman JJ. Validation of a functional human AD model with four AD therapeutics utilizing patterned iPSC-derived cortical neurons integrated with microelectrode arrays. Res Sq. 2024 May 20;. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4313679/v1.
  • Reyes DR, Esch MB, Ewart L, Nasiri R, Herland A, Sung K, Piergiovanni M, Lucchesi C, Shoemaker JT, Vukasinovic J, Nakae H, Hickman J, Pant K, Taylor A, Heinz N, Ashammakhi N. From animal testing to in vitro systems: advancing standardization in microphysiological systems. Lab Chip. 2024 Feb 27;24(5):1076-1087. doi: 10.1039/d3lc00994g. Review.
  • Autar K, Guo X, Powell H, Patel A, Malik M, Grillo M, Akanda N, Narasimhan NS, Bogen W, Long C, Ammar RM, Hickman J. Developing a functional non-animal CNS stress model utilizing long-term potentiation with human iPSC-cortical neurons to evaluate therapeutics. Biomed Pharmacother. 2025 Sep 27;192:118556. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118556.
  • Weber T, Malakpour-Permlid A, Chary A, D’Alessandro V, Haut L, Seufert S, Wenzel EV, Hickman J, Bieback K, Wiest J, Dirks WG, Coecke S, Oredsson S. Fetal bovine serum: how to leave it behind in the pursuit of more reliable science. Front Toxicol. 2025;7:1612903. doi: 10.3389/ftox.2025.1612903. eCollection 2025. Review.
  • Rupar MJ, Hanson HM, Botlick BL, Sriram N, Rogers S, Zuniga J, Liu Z, Trimmer SJ, Ciurca JM, Long CJ, McAleer CW, Schmidt S, Favuzza P, Lowe P, Gobeau N, Hickman JJ. Translation of a Human-Based Malaria-on-a-Chip Phenotypic Disease Model for In Vivo Applications. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2025 Oct;12(38):e05206. doi: 10.1002/advs.202505206. Epub 2025 Jul 21.
  • Malik M, Steele SA, Mitra D, Long CJ, Hickman JJ. Trans-epithelial/endothelial electrical resistance (TEER): Current state of integrated TEER measurements in organ-on-a-chip devices. Curr Opin Biomed Eng. 2025 Jun;34. doi: 10.1016/j.cobme.2025.100588. Epub 2025 Mar 19.
  • Smieszek S, Przychodzen B, Tyner C, Johnson C, Bai H, Kwon JM, Hagan DW, Niccum C, Brighton R, Hawkins K, Aiken R, Nawaz A, Guo X, Hickman J, Polymeropoulos CM, Birznieks G, Polymeropoulos MH. Potential ASO-based personalized treatment for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2S. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2025 Mar 11;36(1):102479. doi: 10.1016/j.omtn.2025.102479. eCollection 2025 Mar 11.
  • Marx U, Beken S, Chen Z, Dehne EM, Doherty A, Ewart L, Fitzpatrick SC, Griffith LG, Gu Z, Hartung T, Hickman J, Ingber DE, Ishida S, Jeong J, Leist M, Levin L, Mendrick DL, Pallocca G, Platz S, Raschke M, Smirnova L, Tagle DA, Trapecar M, van Balkom BWM, van den Eijnden-van Raaij J, van der Meer A, Roth A. Biology-inspired dynamic microphysiological system approaches to revolutionize basic research, healthcare and animal welfare. ALTEX. 2025;42(2):204-223. doi: 10.14573/altex.2410112. Epub 2025 Jan 17.

Research Grants

Dr. Hickman's research has been supported by grants from various organizations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Some of his funded projects include:

  • Investigating the role of Alzheimer's disease familial mutations in neuromuscular physiology.
  • Modulatory Role of Blood-Brain-Barrier and Enzymatic Activity in an Innovative Human Model of Cholinergic Drug Induced Dementia.
  • Biodistribution and PK modeling of rat vs. human systems (with Hesperos, Inc/NIH).
  • Multi-organ human-on-a-chip system to address overdose and acute and chronic efficacy and off-target toxicity.
  • Human on a chip systems to investigate disease comorbidities common in the aged population.
  • Automation and validation of human on a chip systems for drug discovery (with Hesperos, Inc/NIH).
  • Functional integrated human-on-a-chip systems for Alzheimer’s research (with Hesperos, Inc/NIH).
  • Human on a chip system to investigate genetic risk factors in Alzheimer’s disease (with Hesperos, Inc/NIH).
  • Development of an integrated 4-organ animal model (with Hesperos, Inc/NIH).

Honors and Recognition

Dr. Hickman is a recognized leader in his field, as demonstrated by his election as a Fellow of several prestigious organizations:

  • American Institute of Medical and Biomedical Engineers (2004)
  • American Vacuum Society (2007)
  • International Academy of Nanobiotechnology (2019)
  • National Academy of Inventors (2020)

Controversies and Allegations

In addition to his scientific achievements, Dr. Hickman has faced scrutiny regarding his handling of sexual harassment allegations within his lab. In 2023, a male student quit the lab, and his guardian contacted Hickman with concerns about a female student's behavior, describing her as a "sexual predator." Later, in April 2024, Hickman was involved in a human resources investigation after the female student filed a harassment complaint against a second male graduate student.

During the investigation, Hickman shared the information he had received from the first male student's guardian. He also spoke with a second male student who reported a similar experience with the female student. The university subsequently placed Hickman under investigation for allegedly failing to provide resources or guidance to the male students on how to report their concerns.

Hickman's lawsuit said his suspension “barred and halted Dr. He was placed on unpaid suspension, which he appealed unsuccessfully before filing a lawsuit. Hickman claims that the investigation and suspension are part of an effort to discredit his lab and target him personally. He also alleged that the female student "terminated the active cell culture being worked on, as well as potentially erasing the data collected,” after learning of the complaints against her.

Read also: Explore JCU's History and Programs

Student Feedback

Student reviews of Dr. Hickman's teaching vary. Some students have described him as rude, unclear, and disrespectful, with difficult and overly detailed tests. Other students have found his lectures unclear and homework assignments poorly defined.

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