Paul Francois
@pfrancois.bsky.social
Professor Université de Montréal, Physics of Living Systems, Machine Learning, etc…
https://www.francoisresearch.org/
https://www.francoisresearch.org/
Pinned
Generative epigenetic landscapes map the topology and topography of cell fates | PNAS
Epigenetic landscapes were proposed by Waddington as the central concept to describe
cell fate dynamics in a locally low-dimensional space. In mode...
www.pnas.org
Very happy to share our 'Evoscape' paper, now published in PNAS ! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Sharing information about the Impact + program, aiming at attracting ‘excellent’ candidates from outside of Canada . If you are interested in a PhD or Post doc in my group please let me know, the deadline is March 4th www.canada.ca/en/impact-pl...
Program details - Canada.ca
www.canada.ca
January 6, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Sharing information about the Impact + program, aiming at attracting ‘excellent’ candidates from outside of Canada . If you are interested in a PhD or Post doc in my group please let me know, the deadline is March 4th www.canada.ca/en/impact-pl...
I fully agree with this, and I expect there will be a massive and rushed inversion of the curve later because it is so much better. This is also the reason why Québec's decision to 'pause' environmental initiatives is a very bad move from an economic standpoint.
It’s now been 6 months since I got an EV and I am still in love with how it drives. But I also thoroughly get a kick of being able to charge fully at home.
Truly a shame that one piece of tech we have that can do a net-good, our corporate and political leaders want to bury it.
Truly a shame that one piece of tech we have that can do a net-good, our corporate and political leaders want to bury it.
January 6, 2026 at 3:27 PM
I fully agree with this, and I expect there will be a massive and rushed inversion of the curve later because it is so much better. This is also the reason why Québec's decision to 'pause' environmental initiatives is a very bad move from an economic standpoint.
The mechanisms described in this article sound very compatible with our proposal that antagonistic effects related to very slow growing ‘foreign’ tissue should occur within the Discontinuity Theory framework pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
January 6, 2026 at 12:22 AM
The mechanisms described in this article sound very compatible with our proposal that antagonistic effects related to very slow growing ‘foreign’ tissue should occur within the Discontinuity Theory framework pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Just saw a little bunny on campus. I am kind of afraid for him
January 6, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Just saw a little bunny on campus. I am kind of afraid for him
Tough one, but I would say Final Fantasy VII. I had never played any JRPG before, it was the perfect game at the perfect time for me. Motivated me to learn Japanese :) .
What’s your favorite video game that’s at least 27 years old (so 1999 or earlier)? Let’s get a list of classics going.
January 5, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Tough one, but I would say Final Fantasy VII. I had never played any JRPG before, it was the perfect game at the perfect time for me. Motivated me to learn Japanese :) .
Great ‘Monty Hall’- like’ problem today at our GM. We share the traditional French ‘Galette des rois’ and there is one hidden ‘fève’. I cut 10 pieces for 9 people including 1 speaker. Everyone chooses a piece of galettes, so there is one piece left.
January 5, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Great ‘Monty Hall’- like’ problem today at our GM. We share the traditional French ‘Galette des rois’ and there is one hidden ‘fève’. I cut 10 pieces for 9 people including 1 speaker. Everyone chooses a piece of galettes, so there is one piece left.
Reposted by Paul Francois
Here is the link to download the PDF of my course#5 on Biological computation. I present & discuss Self-tuning, Adaptation and Learning in biological (non-neuronal) systems, in particular during embryonic development.
This course contains various personal ideas/proposals.
tinyurl.com/hcpwsbtm
This course contains various personal ideas/proposals.
tinyurl.com/hcpwsbtm
January 3, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Here is the link to download the PDF of my course#5 on Biological computation. I present & discuss Self-tuning, Adaptation and Learning in biological (non-neuronal) systems, in particular during embryonic development.
This course contains various personal ideas/proposals.
tinyurl.com/hcpwsbtm
This course contains various personal ideas/proposals.
tinyurl.com/hcpwsbtm
Reposted by Paul Francois
Very happy to have contributed to this review on the evolution of the Odd protein family, now out in Differentiation! This was a fun project to work on with @abouheif.bsky.social, Vasikar Murugapoopathy & Indra Gupta
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#EvoDevo
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#EvoDevo
Odd-skipped family members have conserved roles in segmentation, appendage, excretory system and gut development in bilaterian animals
The odd-skipped related family of proteins are evolutionarily conserved zinc finger transcription factors in bilaterian animals with essential roles i…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Very happy to have contributed to this review on the evolution of the Odd protein family, now out in Differentiation! This was a fun project to work on with @abouheif.bsky.social, Vasikar Murugapoopathy & Indra Gupta
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#EvoDevo
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#EvoDevo
Reposted by Paul Francois
Blog post: Chance favors the (theoretically) prepared mind
Data is big, machines are learning, so what good is theory anyway? Isn't most discovery driven by serendipity anyway, with theory mostly a "post-mortem"? I argue that this view discounts the value of theory.
open.substack.com/pub/arjunraj...
Data is big, machines are learning, so what good is theory anyway? Isn't most discovery driven by serendipity anyway, with theory mostly a "post-mortem"? I argue that this view discounts the value of theory.
open.substack.com/pub/arjunraj...
Chance favors the (theoretically) prepared mind
In defense of the role of theory in innovation
open.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Blog post: Chance favors the (theoretically) prepared mind
Data is big, machines are learning, so what good is theory anyway? Isn't most discovery driven by serendipity anyway, with theory mostly a "post-mortem"? I argue that this view discounts the value of theory.
open.substack.com/pub/arjunraj...
Data is big, machines are learning, so what good is theory anyway? Isn't most discovery driven by serendipity anyway, with theory mostly a "post-mortem"? I argue that this view discounts the value of theory.
open.substack.com/pub/arjunraj...
Reposted by Paul Francois
The "Hard Truth" about how hard it is to publish in Development. We wrote this to really drive the point that we are a discerning community journal, and we really want to publish your best developmental and stem cell biology contributions.
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
a cartoon of homer simpson and bart simpson sitting on a couch with the words join us above them .
ALT: a cartoon of homer simpson and bart simpson sitting on a couch with the words join us above them .
media.tenor.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:04 PM
The "Hard Truth" about how hard it is to publish in Development. We wrote this to really drive the point that we are a discerning community journal, and we really want to publish your best developmental and stem cell biology contributions.
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
First and last Fat bike ride in 2025, this was magic !
December 31, 2025 at 6:52 PM
First and last Fat bike ride in 2025, this was magic !
Reposted by Paul Francois
⚡️Canada to provide $1.8 billion in economic aid to Ukraine.
Canada will provide Ukraine with $2.5 billion Canadian dollars ($1.8 billion) in economic aid to Ukraine, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Dec. 27.
Canada will provide Ukraine with $2.5 billion Canadian dollars ($1.8 billion) in economic aid to Ukraine, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Dec. 27.
Canada to provide $1.8 billion in economic aid to Ukraine
Canada will provide Ukraine with $2.5 billion Canadian dollars ($1.8 billion) in economic aid to Ukraine, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Dec. 27.
kyivindependent.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:28 PM
⚡️Canada to provide $1.8 billion in economic aid to Ukraine.
Canada will provide Ukraine with $2.5 billion Canadian dollars ($1.8 billion) in economic aid to Ukraine, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Dec. 27.
Canada will provide Ukraine with $2.5 billion Canadian dollars ($1.8 billion) in economic aid to Ukraine, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Dec. 27.
Reposted by Paul Francois
The Embassy staff of Germany, France and the United Kingdom sing Schedryk in the Kyiv underground.
Wonderful!
Wonderful!
December 24, 2025 at 10:29 PM
The Embassy staff of Germany, France and the United Kingdom sing Schedryk in the Kyiv underground.
Wonderful!
Wonderful!
Reposted by Paul Francois
In my case, this painstaking labor in the process through which the science gets done. Science isn't measuring stuff in a lab. It's thinking deeply, extracting the heart of idea from the soup of thoughts running through my mind, molding it, and finding a way to communicate that idea to others.
December 16, 2025 at 11:46 PM
In my case, this painstaking labor in the process through which the science gets done. Science isn't measuring stuff in a lab. It's thinking deeply, extracting the heart of idea from the soup of thoughts running through my mind, molding it, and finding a way to communicate that idea to others.
Not surprising, but I also can see a touch of collective denial from our US friends and colleagues. I was approached to coorganize a conference in the US, and people were very surprised when I told them I would pass for now. Also the US dollar is insanely high.
Researchers are devising creative ways to get together as Trump’s policies curb travel to US gatherings
go.nature.com/4adSEUq
go.nature.com/4adSEUq
Scientists skip key US meetings — and seize on smaller alternatives
Researchers are devising creative ways to get together as Trump’s policies curb travel to US gatherings.
go.nature.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Not surprising, but I also can see a touch of collective denial from our US friends and colleagues. I was approached to coorganize a conference in the US, and people were very surprised when I told them I would pass for now. Also the US dollar is insanely high.
Reposted by Paul Francois
Me as an author: can’t wait to get this manuscript off my desk and into peer review so I can relax over the holidays!
Me as a journal editor: who submits a paper right before the holidays? Obviously we won’t be able to find any peer reviewers for weeks!
Me as a journal editor: who submits a paper right before the holidays? Obviously we won’t be able to find any peer reviewers for weeks!
December 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Me as an author: can’t wait to get this manuscript off my desk and into peer review so I can relax over the holidays!
Me as a journal editor: who submits a paper right before the holidays? Obviously we won’t be able to find any peer reviewers for weeks!
Me as a journal editor: who submits a paper right before the holidays? Obviously we won’t be able to find any peer reviewers for weeks!
Deux avantages à avoir un temps de Janvier en Décembre :
1. Un Noël blanc
2. Une saison de ski de fond qui commence en automne, avec des températures plutôt douces !
Très très hâte de skier tous les jours ou presque pendant la pause de Noël ! 🎄
1. Un Noël blanc
2. Une saison de ski de fond qui commence en automne, avec des températures plutôt douces !
Très très hâte de skier tous les jours ou presque pendant la pause de Noël ! 🎄
December 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Deux avantages à avoir un temps de Janvier en Décembre :
1. Un Noël blanc
2. Une saison de ski de fond qui commence en automne, avec des températures plutôt douces !
Très très hâte de skier tous les jours ou presque pendant la pause de Noël ! 🎄
1. Un Noël blanc
2. Une saison de ski de fond qui commence en automne, avec des températures plutôt douces !
Très très hâte de skier tous les jours ou presque pendant la pause de Noël ! 🎄
Had an interesting car discussion with my 16 y.o. daugther regarding AI. She did not know there were actual 'neurons' in those algorithms, which kind of surprised me then, but makes sense in retrospect.
December 12, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Had an interesting car discussion with my 16 y.o. daugther regarding AI. She did not know there were actual 'neurons' in those algorithms, which kind of surprised me then, but makes sense in retrospect.
Reposted by Paul Francois
TGV Québec-Toronto | Le premier tronçon à être construit reliera Montréal et Ottawa: ✱ Incroyable.
TGV Québec-Toronto | Le premier tronçon à être construit reliera Montréal et Ottawa
✱ Incroyable.
www.lapresse.ca
December 12, 2025 at 11:05 AM
TGV Québec-Toronto | Le premier tronçon à être construit reliera Montréal et Ottawa: ✱ Incroyable.
Reposted by Paul Francois
Reposted by Paul Francois
Saw this adorable French animation ad and I had to share it over here! The style looks familiar but I can’t my finger on what group it is. Any ideas?
December 9, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Saw this adorable French animation ad and I had to share it over here! The style looks familiar but I can’t my finger on what group it is. Any ideas?
Among other things, post-doc and doctorate fellowships for international candidates !
🇨🇦🇨🇦 Just announced: a massive new program from the Canadian govt, separate from the well-known CRCs and CERCs, to recruit foreign scientific talent
Canada was already a destination for scientists but whoa. Real impressive for a new govt to back political talking points with serious investment
Canada was already a destination for scientists but whoa. Real impressive for a new govt to back political talking points with serious investment
$1.7 billion to attract international researchers to Canada
Details of the major federal initiative to draw new talent to the country's universities were announced today at UdeM.
nouvelles.umontreal.ca
December 10, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Among other things, post-doc and doctorate fellowships for international candidates !
Very happy to share our 'Evoscape' paper, now published in PNAS ! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Generative epigenetic landscapes map the topology and topography of cell fates | PNAS
Epigenetic landscapes were proposed by Waddington as the central concept to describe
cell fate dynamics in a locally low-dimensional space. In mode...
www.pnas.org
December 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Very happy to share our 'Evoscape' paper, now published in PNAS ! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
I really think we should have a proper scientific discussion on the ‘AI will cure cancer’ discourse (even for the sake of AI as an applied field). And beyond science, the effective transfer of research money to AI from health research is getting us further from this.
3. I appealed to the joy of doing science—and got the predictable question:
Would you rather live in a world where AI cured cancer or live in a world where you personally get to do science?
But that's not the dilemma we face at all. There's no cause to think that AI could do anything of the sort.
Would you rather live in a world where AI cured cancer or live in a world where you personally get to do science?
But that's not the dilemma we face at all. There's no cause to think that AI could do anything of the sort.
December 8, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I really think we should have a proper scientific discussion on the ‘AI will cure cancer’ discourse (even for the sake of AI as an applied field). And beyond science, the effective transfer of research money to AI from health research is getting us further from this.
Voilà, 3 flocons et on sort les décorations de Noël et les chorales ! Vive Montréal !
December 6, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Voilà, 3 flocons et on sort les décorations de Noël et les chorales ! Vive Montréal !