Dr. Lang’s research is focused on elucidating the mechanisms of molecular and cellular machinery of biological motors, cell receptors and cytoskeletal structures utilizing single molecule methods that probe these systems under loaded conditions through optical tweezers, and visualization through single molecule fluorescence. Our T cell receptor machinery studies include development of single molecule assays for isolated αβTCR–pMHC and related interactions and parallel single cell assays in collaboration with Ellis Reinherz and Wonmuk Hwang. Our kinesin motility efforts are directed towards understanding the atomistic underpinnings of force generation and motility of kinesin family members critical to mitosis, in collaboration with Wonmuk Hwang, Ryoma (Puck) Ohi and Marija Zanic. Our biological motor emphasis is on ClpXP, in collaboration with the laboratories of Bob Sauer and Tania Baker, where we have developed a number of single molecule assays for watching protein degradation processes. We have also advanced new assays for studying cellulose machinery including degradation and synthase assays. The Lang Lab has also contributed to advancing single molecule biophysics methods including combined optical tweezers and single molecule fluorescence and adapting single molecule assays to new biological components. Lang has developed tweezers based microrheology methods and integrated tweezers/fluorescence with microfluidics. Lang has also developed instruments capable of trapping through silicon wafers with complex manipulation capabilities.