We are a molecular biophysics lab studying protein-DNA interactions in the context of transcription, reverse transcription and DNA repair, using advanced single-molecule methods rooted in the physical sciences. We develop experimental setups capable of applying mechanical forces on biological molecules and complexes, and directly measure molecular movements and conformational changes as small as Angstroms. We use these instruments to study the structure of chromatin, the interactions between transcription factors and DNA, and the machine-like function of polymerases, helicases and translocases