A Harvard Medical School Chinese-American neurology assistant professor, Feng Tian, is facing charges of multiple domestic violence incidents, including assaulting a pregnant woman, threatening her with a knife, and forcing the victim to eat in a kitchen where gas was leaking.
According to court records obtained by The Harvard Crimson, Brookline Police Department’s report reveals that Feng Tian was arrested in July 2026 for alleged domestic violence incidents in 2023 and 2026.
The charges against Feng Tian include two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault and battery on a pregnant victim, two counts of domestic assault and battery, and one count of threatening to commit a crime.
During a hearing at the Brookline District Court on July 15, Feng Tian pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released without bail, with the condition of no contact with the victim. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 16 for a pretrial hearing.
Apart from his role as an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, Feng Tian also leads a laboratory at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
The victim described an incident of domestic violence on April 8 when she was nine months pregnant. Feng Tian not only slapped her but also pushed her onto the bed and pressed his forearm against her throat. He then wielded a large kitchen knife and forced her to eat in the kitchen where the gas was leaking. When the victim tried to open a window for ventilation, Feng Tian closed it.
The victim informed the police that the domestic violence started in 2023, a few months after Feng Tian joined Harvard, where he physically assaulted her and threatened her with a knife.
Following the domestic violence incident in April, the victim left the home, sought medical help at a hospital, and disclosed the abuse to healthcare personnel. She gave birth 13 days after leaving the home.
In June, a temporary restraining order was issued against Feng Tian. In early July, the victim attempted to report the case to the Salem Police but was referred to the Brookline Police. Brookline Police interviewed her on July 14 and subsequently applied for an arrest warrant for Feng Tian.
Harvard Medical School spokesperson redirected inquiries from The Harvard Crimson to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, but there was no response from the medical center spokesperson. Feng Tian and his lawyer have also not responded. It remains unclear whether Feng Tian is still employed.
The Boston Globe also covered this domestic violence case.
According to information on the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center website, Feng Tian graduated from Tsinghua University’s School of Life Sciences and pursued a doctoral degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology (Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology) at Harvard University. After obtaining his PhD, he conducted postdoctoral research at Boston Children’s Hospital, funded by the NIH K99/R00 “Pathway to Independence” grant.