Research Interests

Biological function arises from molecular structure. The Chang lab at the University of Pennsylvania studies how the shapes and organization of molecules inside cells give rise to life’s processes.

Rather than focusing on isolated molecules, we use cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to image macromolecular machines directly within intact cells and tissues. This approach enables us to visualize how these machines are organized, how they interact, and how they function in their native environment. By doing so, we gain insight into complex processes such as pathogen invasion and host-pathogen interactions, as well as how diseases develop and may be targeted for intervention.

In parallel, we develop and integrate next-generation methodologies that expand the scope of cryo-ET. By bridging advances in sample preparation, multimodal imaging, AI-driven data analysis, and complementary characterization approaches from materials science and engineering, we aim to push structural biology beyond isolated molecules toward a unified, multi-scale understanding of cellular systems.