MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas State University researcher who was fired after accusing his colleagues of misrepresenting data in an academic journal has lost a bid for whistleblower protection under federal law.

The inspector general’s office at the National Science Foundation concluded that the research assistant professor of biology, Joseph Craine, didn’t qualify for the legal status based on allegations of retaliation from his superiors. However, the investigation did uncover evidence that two professors who sought Craine’s firing referred to him in profane terms in emails withheld by Kansas State University.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that university officials declined to comment on the foundation’s report, the Kansas Whistleblower Act and the nondisclosure of emails.

The National Science Foundation became involved because it sponsors research on prairie grassland coordinated by the university.