Guided throughout his life by a keen sense of curiosity rather than a rigid career plan, Maxime first explored computer science (DUT) and then medicine. His turning point came during a research placement on Parkinson’s disease at the Québec University Hospital Centre, where he discovered his professional ideal: a job where no two days are the same, in a collaborative environment. With his sights set on this goal, he went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in life sciences, a master’s degree in biological engineering, and then a PhD at the CBI in Toulouse, focusing on the maturation of ribosomal RNAs.
Having joined TBI in early 2022 as a postdoctoral researcher, Maxime enjoys tackling scientific questions using a variety of approaches and methodologies: protein purification and plant cell wall degradation, followed by genome editing of E. coli and, currently, a confidential project at the intersection of several disciplines. It is a rewarding career path which, he says, makes him a real Swiss Army knife.
Ce qu’il aime dans la recherche, il le retrouve également ailleurs : depuis 2008, Maxime est pompier volontaire, affecté actuellement à la caserne de Ramonville, où il enchaîne des gardes, souvent la nuit ou le week-end. Deux univers qu’il relie volontiers : une même philosophie d’adaptation permanente à des situations qu’on ne maîtrise jamais complètement et la nécessité de ne rien lâcher face à un problème. Une ténacité qu’il cite d’ailleurs comme la première qualité du métier de chercheur.
Outside the lab, he enjoys spending time with others: quizzes, blind tests and board game nights are all part of his daily life, not to mention a self-confessed sweet tooth for chocolate, which he enjoys without restraint. Always ready to lend a hand, Maxime voices his reservations openly: not to complain, but to stimulate discussion and get things moving. Whether in the lab or in everyday life, he approaches every problem with the same conviction: there is bound to be a solution.