PITTSBURGH — An assistant psychology professor at Slippery Rock University is suing the school, alleging male students and job applicants were treated unfairly based on gender.

Christopher Niebauer of Butler alleges in court documents that women were hired over more qualified male applicants and that a woman applicant once was turned down because she was pregnant.

He further claims he informed university officials when male students complained to him about treatment from his otherwise all-female department.

Niebauer claims that because he has protested these alleged activities, he has been harassed to the extent that he terms it “bullying.”

His 12-page lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh on Thursday, alleges colleagues have made his work environment hostile, causing him to miss meetings, have a less desirable course load and hampering potential future promotions to full professor.

At one point, the lawsuit alleges Niebauer’s personal items and computer were removed from his workplace.

The lawsuit acknowledges that women within the department filed a complaint against him, and he was admonished by a superior for protesting the alleged gender discrimination.

According to the lawsuit, Niebauer has been an assistant professor since Aug. 2000, but the problems did not begin until 2005.

The lawsuit asks the courts to stop the harassment and award attorney fees and punitive damages to Niebauer.

Neither a spokesman for the university nor the attorney representing Niebauer could be reached for comment.