Francoise Winnik was born and educated in France, where she earned a Diplome d'Ingenieur chimiste of the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Mulhouse. She obtained her MSc and PhD in organic chemistry and photochemistry from the University of Toronto. During her post-doctoral studies in medical genetics in the University of Toronto, she was introduced to the fascinating world of cell/cell interactions and, more specifically, the functions of cell-surface carbohydrates. As a research scientist within the Xerox Research Center of Canada, she investigated new materials strategies for xerographic toners and ink-jet inks. Her industrial work converted her to a polymer chemist and led her to design novel polymer-based nanoparticles. When she entered the academic world, she used her industrial training in polymer science to design "intelligent" nanoparticles able to interact with cells. This personal challenge led her to undertake fundamental studies in the chemistry of amphiphilic polymers and their self-assembly in water. Her group has pioneered the applications of microcalorimetry, in particular pressure perturbation calorimetry, and fluorescence techniques in the study of aqueous polymer solutions. Over the last five years, Winnik has carried out several interdisciplinary projects that involve strong collaborations with scientists worldwide in areas ranging from polymer physics and organic/inorganic nanoparticle synthesis to protein chemistry, pharmacology, nanomedicine, cardiology, and medical imaging.

Current projects in Francoise Winnik's group include (i) the design of polysaccharide-based nanocarriers for gene and drug delivery, (2) fundamental studies of the properties of amphiphilic polymers in water; (3) nano-medical applications of films formed by the layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes, (4) synthesis and characterization of quantum dots and gold nanoparticles for in-vitro and in-vivo imaging; (5) mechanistic investigations of the toxicity of nanoparticles.