Frank Battye PhD

Frank moved from solid state physics research into flow cytometry upon joining the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) in 1977 to set up the southern hemisphere's first fluorescence activated cell sorting facility.  In the 35 years that followed he built the facility into Australia's largest; housing 7 cell sorters and 8 analytical flow cytometers.  This expansion required a continuous program of instrument evaluation and procurement, technical staff recruiting and training and also instrument and computer software development. 

Instrument development included electronics additions, optical filter upgrades, detector array modification and laser additions and reconfigurations.

Software development that began with creation of a data acquisition system on the first FACS II cell sorter, continued with programs for off-line data display and analysis, the best known example of which is the Weasel program that continues to be distributed from this web site. 

Frank was the inaugural President of what is now the Australasian Cytometry Society and has been a long-time member of what is now the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.  He has served on the editorial boards of Cytometry and of Cell Biophysics.