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Dr Maxime Francois

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

Research Scientist

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

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Contact details:

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.

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

We have publications by Dr Maxime Francois