The body of professor Steven Rawlings, 50, was found on Wednesday night at the home of his friend Dr. Devinder Sivia, 49, after a neighbor called police to report an incident.

“The entire university community has been profoundly saddened and shocked by the tragic and untimely death of Professor Steve Rawlings,” said Oxford’s Vice-Chancellor Andrew Hamilton, the university’s senior officer.

Sivia was arrested on Wednesday night and released on bail on Friday until April 18. Police said a lengthy bail date was necessary because an autopsy conducted on Rawlings’ body was inconclusive and further examinations were needed.

“We can confirm that the two individuals involved have been friends for over 30 years,” police said in a statement.

“The police are investigating all potential circumstances that could have led to his (Rawlings’)death.”

Sivia is a lecturer in mathematics for the sciences at Saint John’s, one of the 38 colleges that make up the university.

“The college is shocked and distressed by this tragic event,” said Sir Michael Scholar, president of Saint John’s.

Rawlings was based at another college, Saint Peter’s. He lectured on vector calculus to first-year undergraduates and had been head of Oxford’s astrophysics department from 2006 to 2010.

“He was a much-liked and admired tutor and colleague within the college and will be greatly missed,” said Mark Damazer, master of Saint Peter’s, in a statement.