Francis holds an MSc (2005) in biomedical sciences and a PhD (2010) in the field of mass spectrometry-based proteomics, both obtained at Ghent University. He then moved to the Pasteur Institute in Paris for a 4-year postdoc where he applied his proteomics expertise to study bacterial infection by the foodborne model pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. In 2015 Francis moved back to Belgium to lead the Proteomics Core at VIB-UGent and in 2016 he started his own research group supported by an Odysseus starting grant. His research aims to better understand the fundamental principles of bacteria-host interactions and to develop novel antimicrobial approaches. Francis is a VIB group leader since 2016 and a Full Professor at Ghent University since 2022. His current projects focus on the development of novel antibacterial nanobodies and mRNA vaccines and in 2023 he was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant to investigate rare diseases triggered by infection.