He previously served as the chancellor of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) from 2015 to 2022.

[1][2] Paydar joined IUPUI in 1985[3] as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the School of Engineering and Technology, working in the fields of structural mechanics design, biomechanics, and electronic packaging.

[8][9] On November 17, 2015, he was appointed the fifth and final chancellor of IUPUI as well as an executive vice president for Indiana University.

[14][15][16] In March 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Paydar to serve as the assistant secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education.

[18] Paydar is married to Niloo who he met while they were both students at Syracuse.