Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Julien Huet is a leading figure in the automation of structural biology, whose work has revolutionized how high-throughput experiments are conducted at synchrotron facilities. His primary research focuses on developing robotic systems for macromolecular crystallography (MX) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Huet’s most significant contribution is the creation of the **BioSAXS Sample Changer**, a robotic platform that enables rapid, reliable, and automated X-ray solution scattering. This innovation, detailed in a 2014 paper with **208 citations**, has been instrumental in democratizing SAXS, allowing both academic and industrial users to process samples with unprecedented speed and consistency. Earlier, Huet was instrumental in defining the **SPINE standard sample holder** for cryocooled crystals, a 2006 work with **111 citations** that became the global benchmark for automated sample mounting in MX. By standardizing hardware and automating workflows, Huet has dramatically increased the throughput and reproducibility of structural studies, enabling researchers to solve more protein structures and analyze complex biomolecular interactions than ever before. His work remains a cornerstone of modern, high-efficiency beamline operations worldwide.