The overall focus of Dr. Joseph Wang's laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the complex life cycle of viruses using cryo-electron (cryo-EM) microscopy. His laboratory utilizes both single particle and electron tomography approaches to study virus structures as well as the interactions between viral proteins and host factors. The optimal goal is to use obtained structural information for developing effective drug intervention against virus infection.

Currently, Dr. Wang's lab has three major focuses:

• Structural study of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and subviral particles
• Dissecting the molecular details of HBV entry and fusion process
• Molecular mechanism of alphavirus fusion

Dr. Wang has taught multiple courses during his graduate and postgraduate career, including Introduction to Computers (undergraduate level), Biological Electron Microscopy (graduate level) and Introduction to Quantitative Biology and Measurement (graduate level).

His philosophy of education is that the role of a teacher should not be to impress students with their knowledge of a given subject. Rather, it should be to make a subject so interesting that it inspires students to become self-motivated in learning about it.

In addition, Dr. Wang has mentored the research training of undergraduate and graduate students and served on doctoral committees for graduate students.

Dr. Wang teaches virology classes at the College of Medicine, including BMS564 Concepts in Virology (fall semester) and MICRO550 Medical Microbiology (spring semester).