Dr Maxime Francois

/mack-SEEM (Maxime) FRAHN-Swah (Francois)/

Research Scientist

https://people.csiro.au/F/M/Maxime-Francois

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PO BOX 10041
ADELAIDE SA 5000 AUSTRALIA

Biography

Dr Maxime François is a Research Scientist at CSIRO Health & Biosecurity. He received his PhD in Medical Sciences from Edith Cowan University in 2013 where he successfully developed sophisticated automated and quantitative cellular imaging methods to measure biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in cheek cells. His current research aims to measure early biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in saliva through proteomics and metabolomics methods for the development of a non-invasive diagnostic test. Maxime is also an associate investigator in the MRFF project “Forecasting Impairment and Neurodegenerative Disease risk following Traumatic Brain Injury (FIND-TBI): A computational neurology-driven method to predict long-term prognosis”.

Maxime has experience in project leadership, managing staff and supervising students. He is currently co-leading a project to deliver a CSIRO nanobody manufacturing pipeline to tackle future pandemics and provide strong binders to a variety of projects.

Maxime has also a strong interest in developing virtual reality (VR) tools with applications within his research and leads a collaboration with the Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments, UniSA. The project aims at developing and testing novel VR interaction techniques for the immersive 3D visualisation of metabolic pathways and biomarker data to detect changes in Alzheimer’s disease. His interest in VR also led him to equip his program with a VR capability to visualise high-resolution microscopy images in a 3D environment.

Maxime is an expert user of a panel of imaging equipment such as laser scanning cytometer, Metasystem Metafer, Nikon A1 confocal microscope and 3D Imaris imaging software. He is an EMCR affiliated with the University of Adelaide and has published 28 peer-reviewed research papers, including two book chapters (h-index 13; Citations 554). He has presented his work at 32 conferences and has been involved in mentoring junior research project staff and postgraduate students within CSIRO.

Maxime is the current SA hub leader for the Australian and French Researchers in Australia Network association (AFRAN), supported by the French embassy and has a strong engagement in teaching, with previous experience as a biology and French tutor for Flinders University and the University of Adelaide, respectively.

Other Interests

Amateur chef, scuba diving, reading, running, swimming, and traditional Japanese Jujitsu.

Professional Areas

Fields of Research

Current

Current Roles

Research Scientist
Molecular Diagnostic Solutions
SA Hub Leader
Australian-French Research and Innovation Network

Academic Qualifications

2013

PhD in Medical Sciences - "Discovery of new biomarkers of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's disease risk in buccal cells using laser scanning cytometry"
Edith Cowan University
2009

Master by Research in "Neuroscience and Human Nutrition".
University of Bordeaux (France).
2007

3rd Year Bachelor of "Biochemistry and Molecular Biology".
University of Rennes (France).
2006

1st and 2nd Year Bachelor of "Biology". U
niversity of New Caledonia.

Professional Experiences

2017-2020

FSP Postdoctoral Fellow
CSIRO
2013-2016

OCE Postdoctoral Fellow
CSIRO
2012-2013

Casual Research Officer
CSIRO
2009-2010

Research Project Officer
CSIRO
Jan 2009-June 2009

6 Months internship
CSIRO
May 2008-June 2008

7 weeks work placement
UPCDM (Proteolysis, Muscular Growth and Development Unit) - Bordeaux - France.

Achievements and Awards

2016-2016

H&B Award - Successful Postdoc
CSIRO
2016-Present

Affiliate Associate Lecturer – School of Biological Sciences
The University of Adelaide
2016-2016

Best Oral Presentation Award
Asia-Pacific Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics Organisation (APNNO)
2016-2016

Best Poster Award
Epigenetics Consortium of South Australia (EpiCSA)
2016-2016

Travel Award to attend AFRAN forum
CSIRO
2010-2010

Travel Award to attend QIC symposium
CSIRO

Other highlights

2016-Present

Member, Asia Pacific Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics Organization (APNNO)
2016-Present

Member of Australian Epigenetics Alliance (AEpiA)
2015-Present

Member, International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research (ISNPR)
2011-2016

Member, Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)
2010-2010

Invited workshop instructor to the Quantitative Imaging Cytometry Symposium (Boston, MA, USA)

Grants

2017-2019

CSIRO Future Science Platforms Project - $717,123
2011-2012

JO & JR Wicking and Mason Foundation Trust (ANZ Trustees) - $60,000
2010-2013

Preventative Health Flagship Top-up Postgraduate Scholarship - $21,000
2010-2013

PhD Scholarship from Government of New Caledonia - BER "Bourse d'encouragement a la recherche" - $75,000

Community and Corporate Citizenship

2016-Present

CSIRO Fire Warden
2017-Present

Lab Custodian
2017-Present

Gym custodian
2014-2017

CSIRO Education and Outreach Program

Publications

We have publications by Dr Maxime Francois