EDUCATION
Sept 08-present PhD in Biophysics, Stanford University, California. Stanford Graduate Fellow.
Sept 03-April 08 Honors Biophysics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC(Science One program)
Sept 01- Jun 03 Prince of Wales, Vancouver, BC
Sept 98- July 01 Liceo Scientifico Giolitti, Bra, (CN) Italy
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Mar 08 Stanford Graduate Fellowship
April 08 Science Service Award
Dec 07 Thomas and Evelyn Hebb Memorial Scholarship UBC
Nov 07 Wesbrook Scholarship UBC
Oct 07 Trek Excellence Scholarship UBC
Sept 07 Charles and Jane Banks Scholarship UBC
Sept 06 – Present Science Scholar UBC
Summer 07 NSERC undergraduate scholarship award
Winter 06-07 Dean of Science Scholarship
Sept 03–present Dean’s Honor List: Faculty of Science
Mar 06 NSERC undergraduate scholarship – Declined -
May 04 Larry Roberts Science One Memorial Scholarship
EMPLOYMENT
Sept 07- July 08 Research assistant: Hansen Lab, UBC proteomics, UBC
Optimization of a microfluidic digital PCR device with a million parallel reactors for detection of low copy number variants. The technology was tested for numerous applications, such as the detection of 1% increase of gene copy number, rare SNP analysis and gene colocalization (BCR-ABL leukemia). One invited conference talk, one poster presentation and one manuscript in preparation.
May 07- Sept 07 Research assistant: Hansen Lab, UBC proteomics, UBC
Applied microfabrication and soft lithography techniques to develop, construct and test a microfluidic device for detection of fetal Down syndrome. The procedure involves PCR amplification of single DNA molecules on chip to detect trisomy of fetal chromosome 21 by analysis of maternal rather than fetal blood samples. One provisional patent pending.
Sept 06- April 07 Part-time Research assistant: Hansen Lab, UBC proteomics, UBC
Applied microfabrication and soft lithography techniques to develop, construct and test a microfluidic device for a million parallel picoliter PCR reactions.
May 06- Sept 06 Research assistant: Stanford Genome Technology Centre, Stanford University, Dr. Ron Davis, Dr. Mostafa Ronaghi
Designed and performed experiments employing synthetic nanopores for detection and real time analysis of proteins and other metabolites. Nanopore surface properties were investigated upon protein binding and modification of the nanopore materials. Electrical detection of ELISA was accomplished employing nanoporous membranes. Manuscript in preparation. One invited talk. One poster abstract submitted. One manuscript submitted.
Sept 05- April 05 Part time Research assistant:Applied Biophysics Lab, UBC, Andre Marzial
Developed techniques for and demonstrated parallel multi-pore measurements of oligo hybridization on the trans side of a membrane, as a precursor for a multi-pore synthetic DNA sequence detection device. Manuscript submitted. One conference talk.
May 05- Sept 05 Research assistant: Applied Biophysics Lab, UBC, Andre Marziali
Development of an organic single-molecule nanosensor. Conducted independent research on kinetics of DNA escape from an organic nanopore. Designed and conducted experiments to measure survival probabilities of oligonucleotides in the pore escaping against an electrostatic energy barrier, edited and designed LabVIEW software for data acquisition and analysis. Manuscript in preparation. One invited talk, one poster presentation.
Jan 03 – Jan 05 Private Tutor
High school Physics, Chemistry and math, Grade 10-12
May 04 – Aug 04 Zim Israel Navigation Company; Vancouver, BC
Receptionist
Jan 01 – Sept 02 Cormac Snc. Bra, Italy and Vancouver, BC
Computer programmer:
Created several programs for Scheduling, Pricing, listing stocks and sales, Import/export. Worked with and trained others to asses the needs of the program and its use
TALKS
"MegaPixel Digital PCR for Non-invasive Detection of Fetal Down's Syndrome." IDSSG Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Invited, May 2008.
Valedictorian graduation speech. UBC, May 2008.
"MegaPixel Digital PCR with Application to Non-Invasive Detection of Fetal Down Syndrome" Thesis Defense, UBC, April 2008.
"MegaPixel Digital PCR with Application to Non-Invasive Detection of Fetal Down Syndrome" MURC Conference, UBC, March 2008.
“Mega-Pixel Digital PCR” Fluidigm (Company presentation), California, Invited, September 2007.
“Detection of Epigenetic Sequence and Base Mutations Using Organic Nanopores” Hangzhou Genomic Conference, Hangzhou, China, Invited, October 2006
"Electronic Detection of Functional Biomolecules", Frontiers in Biophysics, Loon Lake, October 2006.
“DNA, nanopores and the art of genome sequencing”,
MURC Conference, UBC, March 2006. click also here for abstract
“Escape Kinetics of DNA through an alpha-hemolysin nanopore” University Of British Columbia, Biophysics Seminar, Invited, Dec. 2005. click also here for abstract
POSTERS
"MegaPixel Digital PCR for Non-invasive Detection of Fetal Down's Syndrome." ISPD Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, June 2008.
“Detection of Epigenetic sequence mutation with organic nanopores”, Biophysical Society Meeting, Baltimore, March 2007.
Matthew Wiggin, Carolina Tropini, Dhruti Trivedi, Nahid Jetha, David Broemeling, and Andre Marziali, "Kinetic Studies of DNA Escape from Nanopores", NHGRI grantee meeting, Marco Island, Florida, Feb 2006.
PUBLICATIONS
Peer Reviewed
C.Tropini and A. Marziali, "Multi-nanopore force spectroscopy for DNA analysis", Vol 92 1632-1637 March 2007. Biophysics Journal
M. Wiggin, C. Tropini, V. Tabard-Cossa and A. Marziali, “Kinetics Of DNA Escape From A Nanopore”, in Review to Biophysics Journal.
A. H. Talasaz, R. M. Aliabadi, C. Tropini, Kee-Hyun Paik, Baback Gharizadeh, M. Nemat-Gorgani, M. Ronaghi, R. Fabian W. Pease, R. W. Davis, “Solid-state Bioactivated Nanopores for Molecular Analysis.,” submitted to Nanoletters.
In Preparation
C. Tropini, C. L. Hansen. "MegaPixel Digital PCR with Application to Non-invasive Detection of Fetal Down Syndrome".
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
“Affinity and sequence dependent concentration of biomolecules including nucleic acids”, A. Marziali, J. Thompson, C. Tropini. Invention disclosure – patent to be applied for.
“Creation of Microscale Oil/Water Emulsion Arrays. Utilization of transparency sheets as a vapour barrier.”, C. Hansen, C. Tropini. Nov 7, 2007UBC file 08-075
OTHER EXPERIENCE
May 08- July 08 Dance Instructor, Dance 4 U
Ballroom Dancing teacher - Intermediate level.
April 07- April 08 Biophysics Student Society President, UBC
Organizer and Creator “Adventures in Science” seminar series.
Coordinator of UBC biophysics events and student society.
Feb 07- Feb 08 Welcome Women to Physics event, UBC
Organizer for the outreach event towards women in physics.
Mar 07 Physics and Astronomy Outreach event, UBC
Volunteer for the Physics high school recruitment yearly event.
Jan 07 Engineering Physics Outreach Dinner, UBC:
Volunteer laboratory tour guide.
Jan 07 Welcome Women to Physics and Astronomy, UBC:
Group leader, laboratory tour guide.
Mar 03 - Jul 05 Dunbar Community centre, Vancouver, BC:
Volleyball coach, activity organizer
Sept 02 - Jul 03 Prince of Wales Secondary, Vancoveur, BC: Community Service Assistant
Organized school pep rally
Managed athletic program
Personal assistant of the Director of the Athletic Department
Teacher assistant in P.E. classes
Sept 02 – Jul 03 Peer Tutoring Program Prince Of Wales Secondary
Tutored grade 8 to 11 students with learning disabilities (ADHD, LD)
Jan 02 – Sept 03 Haro Park Center (Seniors long-term care facility)
Elders Assistant: Helped and entertained elders once a week.
LANGUAGES
Italian, French, Intermediate Spanish
INTERESTS
REFERENCES
Available upon request.