Indiana University cybersecurity professor Wang XiaoFeng was fired on March 28, the same day the FBI and Department of Homeland Security searched his homes. His union, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), argues he was terminated without due process. The AAUP letter highlights the lack of notice and hearing before the Faculty Board of Review, emphasizing the high level of scrutiny required for tenured faculty termination.
While news reports suggest Wang is under investigation, the exact nature of the investigation remains unclear. A separate complaint filed in mid-February alleges research misconduct, including failing to properly disclose the principal investigator on a grant application and not fully listing all co-authors on an article. Whether this complaint relates to his termination is unknown.
Wang, a tenured professor since 2004, held significant positions, including Associate Dean for Research and leadership roles in the NSF Center for Distributed Confidential Computing and ACM SIGSAC. His attorney states he hasn't been detained and there are no pending criminal charges against him or his wife. They are aiming to clear their names and resume their careers.
A motion to unseal search warrants related to the raids on Wang and his wife's homes was filed on April 1 and a response from the U.S. Attorney is expected by April 17.
Indiana University's response is pending, and the university has removed online profiles for both Wang and his wife. The department claims Wang accepted another job with appropriate advanced notice.