Babak Babakinejad

Babak Babakinejad, Ph.D., is known for his whistleblowing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he served as Lead Researcher on the Media Lab’s Open Agriculture (OpenAg) Initiative and its “Food Computer” project. He exposed serious flaws in the technology and raised early warnings about violations of research integrity, environmental compliance, and public safety, including the illegal dumping of toxic chemicals.

Despite facing retaliation, his disclosures led to national and international media coverage in The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, ProPublica, Times Higher Education, Business Insider, Boston Business Journal, and others. His efforts contributed directly to the shutdown of the OpenAg Initiative, a fine imposed by state environmental regulators, the retraction of a high-profile peer-reviewed scientific publication, among other consequences.

Dr. Babakinejad completed his doctorate in Neuroscience and Nanotechnology from Imperial College London, a master’s degree from the Institute of Psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital, and a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Genetics from King’s College London. He has also served on a UK research ethics committee, contributing to the responsible oversight of scientific and clinical research. 

He remains engaged in legal and public advocacy efforts to strengthen protections for whistleblowers, and promote ethical standards and accountability in scientific institutions.