Cecile Fradin

Professor Cecile Fradin is a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at McMaster University, specializing in membrane biophysics and cellular dynamics. Her research focuses on molecular movements in biological systems using advanced spectroscopic techniques like fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy and single-particle tracking. She holds a PhD from Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (1996-1999) and completed postdoctoral work at the Weizmann Institute of Sciences (1999-2001).

Her research interests include membrane protein dynamics, apoptosis mechanisms, and the origins of life. Key areas of study involve Bax/Bcl-2 protein interactions, magnetotactic bacteria behavior, and transcription factor clustering in Drosophila embryos. She teaches courses such as Explorations in Medical and Biological Physics and Introduction to Molecular Biophysics.

Recent work includes studies on transcription factor oligomerization in early fly embryos, magnetosome protein interactions in mammalian cells, and synthetic hydrogel systems. Her lab uses neutron scattering and advanced microscopy to probe membrane structures and protein behaviors at nanometer scales.

Awards: While specific prizes aren't listed, her extensive scholarly activity (55+ contributions in 10 years) reflects significant recognition in biophysical research.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Membrane Biophysics and Origins of Life Laboratory. Collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving microbiology, materials science, and developmental biology.