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UB professor sues Virginia Tech; claims he was denied tenure because he's Iranian

UB professor sues Virginia Tech; claims he was denied tenure because he's Iranian
Posted at 2:40 PM, Jan 31, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-31 15:51:30-05

A professor at the University at Buffalo has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, claiming he was denied tenure because he is disabled and Iranian.

Javid Bayandor is seeking $5 million in damages from Virginia Tech University. His suit claims the school turned him down for tenure and a promotion in 2016 and did not adequately handle his request for appeal.

Bayandor was seriously injured in a crash in 2011 that caused permanent damage to his spine and nervous system. The suit alleges he was granted an extension on his tenure clock by the university following the crash, but was unfairly required to provide a status update of his work for review. 

Bayandor joined the faculty at U.B. last year. He is currently an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. He is a lifetime fellow of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program.

A Virginia Tech spokesperson said the university cannot comment on ongoing litigation.