Jason Arday, the former University of Cambridge professor who was at the centre of a plagiarism row, has been found dead at an address in Battersea, south London.
Emergency services were called to the address on Friday afternoon by the London Ambulance Service. The Metropolitan Police said a man was found “unresponsive” and that his death is being treated as “unexpected, but not suspicious.”
Arday died at the age of 41.
His family said in a statement that they were “in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son.”
“The campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentle man and who always wanted to see the best in everyone,” they added.
Arday resigned as Cambridge’s Professor of Sociology of Education last week following allegations of plagiarism and questions about some of his achievements. He denied the claims but admitted there were errors in his early academic work.
He had said the scrutiny led to “an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack” and that the “personal cost” had become “too great.”
The allegations were first made by academic Nathan Cofnas. Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded Arday his PhD in 2015, previously concluded that he had not plagiarised. Cambridge announced earlier this week that it would carry out an independent investigation into his appointment.
Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Prof Deborah Prentice said: “We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said she was “deeply shocked and saddened” and urged people to “remember there are real people with loved ones involved.”
Professor Kehinde Andrews, a friend of Arday, told BBC Newsnight that Arday had been “very down” since resigning. “He was very upset. He felt that there was no way out.”
Arday was appointed Cambridge’s youngest black professor at the age of 37 in 2023. He previously worked at Durham University and the University of Glasgow. Both institutions said they were “shocked and saddened” and expressed condolences to his family.
His memoir, Great And Unfortunate Things, was released in the US this week and was due for UK publication on August 27.
