Genome giant Craig Venter, whose privately-owned Synthetic Genomics was hit with a gender discrimination suit last fall alleging he put his arm around a female executive and said she was “‘the only one without a penis here!’ or words to that effect,” has been pulling down a big salary at his non-profit J. Craig Venter Institute at UCSD. Federal filings show that Venter has consistently gotten high-six figure salaries as institute president, the latest disclosed being $807,135 in 2015. To sweeten the deal, the institute paid Heather Kowalski Communications $150,000. Cited in a Science Magazine story as “Venter’s personal spokesperson,” Kowalski’s other role is Venter’s wife.

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More from SDReader

• More stories by Matt Potter
• Genetically speaking — June 14, 2017
• Designer Genes: Craig Venter Negotiates with UCSD — June 22, 2011
• Craig Venter Lab at UCSD on Regents' Agenda — Jan. 19, 2011
• On the outs — Jan. 7, 2009
• The Incredible Craig Venter — Nov. 25, 2008