Professor Lang graduated in Polymer Engineering and Science in 1978 (University of Leoben, A) and obtained a PhD degree in 1984 (Lehigh University, USA). He then joined BASF AG (D), holding a research and group leader position in the field of advanced composites. In 1991 he became Full Professor at the University of Leoben (A). Acting also as Director of the Polymer Competence Center Leoben (PCCL) from 2002 to 2008, he had a leading role in the establishment and development of the PCCL to about 100 employees. Since September 2009 he holds the Chair of Polymeric Materials and Testing at the Johannes Kepler University (JKU) Linz (A).
The research focus of Professor Lang is in the field of “mechanics, fracture and fatigue of plastics and composites” and in the “application of polymers in solar energy technologies”. He is author and co-author, respectively, of more than 200 papers. In his role as initiator and coordinator of large, multi-partner collaborative research projects (science and industry), he has successfully applied for and directed a publically funded research budget of about 50 Mio. EURO in the last 10 years. Thus he currently acts as Project Director of the Austrian research project platform SolPol, focusing on polymer related innovations for solar technologies.