He discovered talin (protein) as another focal adhesion protein and then, in collaboration with Rick Horwitz's laboratory, showed that talin (protein) bound to the cytoplasmic domains of integrins. He then discovered other focal adhesion components including paxillin and contributed to the discovery of zyxin and palladin. Since then his work has focused on the signaling pathways emanating from focal adhesions, including RhoA-mediated contractility and tyrosine phosphorylation in response to adhesion