MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A promising University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher who has won millions of dollars in grants says he is leaving the school, citing its lack of health insurance benefits for his domestic partner.

Rob Carpick, associate professor of engineering, said he will depart for the University of Pennsylvania, which offers domestic partner benefits, at the end of the year. He’s taking with him a research portfolio that has won $3.4 million in grants from the National Science Foundation, branches of the U.S. military and private companies since 2000.

“After six and one-half years of working very hard, I found it’s problematic to work in an environment where you are not treated equally,” Carpick, 37, said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Fortunately there are other entities that are more enlightened than the state of Wisconsin on this issue and the University of Pennsylvania is one of them.”

UW-Madison Provost Patrick Farrell said that Carpick, the winner of prestigious teaching and research awards for young scholars, was among the university’s top young researchers in nanotechnology, an area the school is trying to expand.

“It’s certainly a great loss for us,” he said. “Rob has been very productive in his time here. He’s been a model young faculty member, active researcher, great teacher. Students love him in his class.”

Michael Corradini, chair of the engineering physics department, made a counteroffer hoping Carpick would stay.

“Rob is one of our young superstars,” he said.

He said Carpick was the first faculty member in the 20-professor department to leave for another school in 15 years.

Last year, state lawmakers rejected Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle’s plan to allow UW-Madison to offer benefits for the partners of gay and lesbian employees as a way to recruit and retain faculty and staff. UW-Madison, a leader in research nationally, is the only Big 10 school that does not offer the benefits.

Carpick said the policy has meant the partner he married in Canada in 2003, Carlos Chan, has had to reluctantly work for UW-Madison to obtain health insurance. A chef, Chan will be able to open a small business in Pittsburgh, where he’ll have health insurance, Carpick said.

Carpick is the latest in a string of faculty members who have cited the policy in leaving or turning down jobs here, including two professors from its top-ranked sociology department. Farrell said other top scholars will not even consider working at UW-Madison because of the policy.

Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, defended the Legislature’s decision to reject Doyle’s plan, citing the estimated $500,000 per year cost of the benefits at a time the state has budget problems. He said Carpick’s departure was unfortunate, but the next person may be able to secure as many grants.

“It’s too bad that we may lose a good person here or there but I do not see a mass exodus from the University of Wisconsin over this one issue,” said Kaufert, co-chair of the Legislature’s budget committee.

Six lesbian couples and the American Civil Liberties Union sued the state last year in an attempt to obtain the benefits. That lawsuit is spending.

Carpick wrote to Kaufert last year trying to persuade lawmakers to adopt the benefits by noting that he generates the amount of money per year in grants the benefits would cost. He said he was angered by the Legislature’s decision.

“It says, ‘we don’t want your kind here,’” he wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “Well, other places do want us and are willing to offer the respect and dignity, and so, with sadness, we’re leaving.”

The departure comes as the state prepares to vote Nov. 7 on a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage and civil unions. Critics say the amendment would threaten domestic partner benefits and they warn talented gays and lesbians will leave the state in droves.

Julaine Appling, executive director of the Family Research Institute of Wisconsin, dismissed Carpick’s comments as a political statement. Her group opposes the use of tax dollars for domestic partner benefits, saying they encourage unstable relationships.

“Last time I checked we haven’t had these benefits at the UW ever and we are still considered one of the top five research schools in the country,” she said. “I don’t think it’s hurt us at all.”

Doyle spokesperson Dan Leistikow said the governor supports the benefits.

“Losing a top researcher like Dr. Carpick is a direct result of the Legislature’s failure to act on the governor’s proposal,” he said.

Doyle’s Republican challenger Mark Green does not believe tax dollars should be used for domestic partner benefits, said spokesman Luke Punzenberger.