Princeton student says she did not conduct the experiments described in her now-retracted paper

A Princeton undergraduate student, Rishika Porandla, has retracted a paper she co-authored in 2024, citing "significant methodological errors" in the experimental procedure. The paper, published in Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, claimed to demonstrate that mixing gold nanoparticles with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and subjecting it to an electron beam could enhance PVC's biodegradation.

Porandla, now a college student, told Retraction Watch that the beam experiment described in the paper was a "proposed experimental workflow with associated calculated results" and not a real experiment she conducted. She acknowledged the confusion caused by the retracted publication and included detailed clarification in an updated retraction statement.

Porandla's decision to retract the paper came after she discovered issues with the calibration of the electron beam exposure time and the distribution of gold nanoparticles during a follow-up study. The original retraction notice highlighted the importance of experimental rigor and reproducibility standards for student researchers.

Porandla's exceptional academic record, including internships at NASA and founding the Spacetime Archives, led to her being sought after for college counseling services by her peers and mentors. However, the retraction has raised questions about the safeguards and support systems in place for student researchers, particularly given the intense pressure surrounding college admissions.