Virginia A. Lang, PhD, has established herself as a distinguished professional in human factors and product design, specializing in software security, information technology, finance, and communications. Since 2006, she has excelled as the founder of HirLan Inc. and HirLan International SA, advancing human factors research for medical devices. Her company operates a laboratory in Carlsbad, California, and collaborates with laboratories in the United Kingdom for CE mark testing in the European Union. Dr. Lang’s primary role involves business development and ensuring the company’s presence at numerous conferences annually.
Dr. Lang’s professional experience also includes influential roles across major technology companies. From 2012 to 2014, she was a consultant and associate director of human factors at the Merck Group. She served as director of user experience and design at HandsOn Mobile from 2008 to 2010 and at DivX Inc. from 2007 to 2008. Prior to these positions, she was a senior manager of user experience at DIRECTV from 2006 to 2007, a manager at Microsoft from 2004 to 2006, and a user experience manager at CalAmp from 2003 to 2004.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Lang garnered entrepreneurial and business leadership experience as the co-founder of OnCenter Consulting, serving as chief executive officer from 2001 to 2004. She also held directorial positions at the RemoteNet Corporation and Symantec in the late 1990s. Dr. Lang’s foundational professional experiences include working as a systems engineer and interface designer at Bellcore from 1994 to 1995 and serving as an assistant professor of psychology at Wichita State University from 1990 to 1994.
In preparation for her professional accomplishments, Dr. Lang earned a Master of Arts in psychology from Towson University in 1978 and a Doctor of Philosophy in cognitive behavioral psychology with a concentration in human factors from Binghamton University in 1990. Further establishing her educational and career experience, Dr. Lang completed internships at the Air Force Medical System Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, NASA Langley, and Tektronix. Beyond her professional achievements, she has dedicated her spare time as a leader with the Girl Scouts of the USA, a soccer coach, and a volunteer at her church.
Reflecting on her path, Dr. Lang spent more than a decade in developmental psychology, culminating as director of clinical research at the Kennedy Institute at Johns Hopkins University. There, she collaborated on a government-funded study determining the youngest gestational age for infant viability. A pivotal moment occurred when she visited the NICU and saw an infant at 17 weeks of gestation, a sight that deeply affected her and led her to reassess her career direction. Encouraged by her husband, she connected with human factors psychologists working on Abrams tank testing, an introduction that sparked her interest in the field. Instead of accepting a job offer, she chose to pursue a doctorate in cognitive behavioral psychology with a human factors concentration, setting the stage for her future in technology and human-centered design.
Recognized for her contributions, Dr. Lang has received awards such as a fellowship from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and multiple teaching accolades from Wichita State University. Looking to the future, she plans to focus on consulting in human factors regulatory affairs, guiding medical companies through the essential processes required for clearance or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While her lab previously handled both testing and consulting, Dr. Lang will now concentrate on helping companies recognize human factors as an asset. She has secured another contract, and for full testing needs, clients will rent a facility instead of using the former Carlsbad location.
Dr. Lang has been invited to speak at a conference on AR/VR/MR in medical devices and recently presented at a packaging conference in Boston. In the coming weeks, she will speak at another packaging conference and will once again teach the human factors course at EPFL in Switzerland. Dr. Lang’s long-term plans include expanding her business’ reach by focusing on consulting services for early-stage product design and development.