Veronika Cencen

Veronika Cencen Email: veronika.cencen@epfl.ch,-,-Na=onality: Slovene Educa/on PhD research assistant in Bioengineering for Marie Curie Innovators Cofund, EPFL Switzerland HKPFS Fellowship research assistant, Hong Kong – Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. 2017-Present. Average level of achievement of courses taken: A+ M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering O9awa - Carleton Ins=tute of Biomedical Engineering, University of O9awa, Canada,-. Average level of achievement in courses: A B.Sc. Biotechnology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2011 - 2014 High school: IB Diploma, Western Academy of Beijing (China) and Gimnazija Bezigrad , Slovenia- Other Relevant Educa/on and Training Labview CerFficate, EPFL Lausanne, 2019 Professional Development training compleFon, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, fall 2017 Graduate Teaching Assistant training, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, fall 2017 NanofabricaFon Facility and related equipment, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2018 con=nuous Bioengineering laboratory training, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, fall 2017 Chemical and Biological safety cerFficate, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, September 2017 WHMIS, general laboratory safety, and biological laboratory safety training (completed courses and cerFficaFon), University of O9awa, October 2014 Teaching Assistant workshops, University of O9awa,- Various research and professional workshops, provided by IEEE and Al=tude through University of O9awa,- Matlab and Simulink training workshop, Matlab, provided through University of O9awa 2014 Startup Weekend, Ljubljana University Incubator, Slovenia, 2014 Stem Cell Cafe, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2014 Dr. Tung-Tien Sun's workshop "On Being a ScienFst: EssenFal Skills of a Biomedical InvesFgator”, April 2014 Erasmus Exchange, courses from Biotechnology M.Sc. program at Faculty of Science, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania, July-December 2013 Various research and professional workshops, provided by University of Ljubljana Career Centre I have gained insight into the professional and entrepreneurial environment of my study field during my coopera=on with these various research collaborators . I spent a predominant part of my youth abroad, of this nine years in Beijing and two in Moscow, which has greatly contributed to my ability to communicate with individuals of various cultures and beliefs; this was also facilitated by the IB system of educa=on I was involved in, and my inclusion in the rhythmic gymnas=cs prac=ce of local na=onal teams. Research Experience Research Assistant at Bioengieering laboratory of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in developing a flexible brain probe Research assistant at Princeton University working on theore=cal modelling of receptor-mediated endocytosis for mul=ple nanopar=cles M.Sc. Research on developing a microfluidic device capable of transfec=ng cells by applying shear stress to cause temporary membrane damage Collabora=on with Dr. Masako Hirotani and Dr. Adrian Chan for research and conference submission on comparing amplifiers for detec=on of ERP biopoten=als Organizing a register of obese children, Clinic of Ljubljana, Ljubljana (Slovenia), Apr 2014 Research assistant, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana (Slovenia), Feb 2014 (Assis=ng a PhD student in tes=ng a novel an=-cancer pharmaceu=cal compound and its effects on the immune signalling pathway) Laboratory Assistant (voluntary work experience) for Zicai Liang, Ph.D. (Professor, Principal Inves=gator), Ins=tute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing (China), May 2009 (Prepara=ons for cancer treatment with RNAi) Teaching Experience - Teaching assistant in undergraduate physics including lab work, University of O9awa -) - Mentor of co-op student, University of O9awa (2015) - Mentor of three student projects in Aboriginal Mentorship Program at Opoengo High School for Let’s Talk Science - Ac=ve Volunteer (ac=vity demonstrator) for Let’s Talk Science and Science Travels remote outreach Society Memberships Engineering Student Ambassador, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology IEEE (h9p://yp.ieee.org/veronika-cencen-interna=onal-gymnast-biomedical-engineer-and-ieeevolunteer/) Princeton University Women in Engineering chapter CMBES Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society Canadian AssociaFon of Physicists Canadian Biomaterials Society member and volunteer IAAS (Interna=onal Associa=on of students in Agricultural and related Sciences) Slovenia, assis=ng in interna=onal connec=ons University Service ⁃ Speaker at ASEF talks, Stanford University, March 2018 ⁃ Funded presenter at AOTULE Hanoi conference, 2017 ⁃ Engineering Student Ambassador, Hong Kong, 2018 ⁃ HKPFS ambassador, Hong Kong, 2018 ⁃ Library improvement volunteer, Hong Kong, 2018 ⁃ Presenter at Princeton University Matlab poster session ⁃ Presenter at Women In Physics Canada (dual funding awarded) ⁃ Presenter at O9awa-Carleton Ins=tute of Biology Symposium ⁃ Presenter at University of O9awa 3 Minute Thesis 2016 ⁃ Presenter at GSAED Interdisciplinary Conference November 2016 ⁃ Volunteer at Let's Talk Science University of O9awa Branch (also selected for the team of 3 to a Science Travels trip to Eastmain and Waskaganish, November 14th-20th 2015, Aboriginal Mentorship Program, and volunteer of the year selected for the Northern Trip (Cambridge Bay) for promo=on of STEM educa=on) ⁃ Staff status at university newspaper and magazine of the physics society. Par=cipa=on in relevant seminars and events, writer of ar=cles. ⁃ Contributed to Godin Lab poster content for PhysicsFest 2015 and 2016 ⁃ Representa=ve for Godin Lab at Feature Maker Faire in O9awa, Nov 7th-8th 2015 ⁃ A9ended various seminar series at University of O9awa (such as CREATE, IEEE Extreme Photonics, Matlab, COMSOL, graduate and employee development workshops, OCIBME seminars, and department symposia) ⁃ Part of a faculty-based team from University of Ljubljana that published an online dic=onary of biotechnological expressions ⁃ A9ended Slovenian-Israeli day of Science and Innova=on, held on February 10th 2014 ⁃ Submi9ed essay en=tled “Diverse religious standpoints on (embryonic) stem cell research and their effect on varying legal restric=ons in the field" to the Hektoen Interna=onal Essay Contest, Feb 2014 ⁃ A9ended ThermoFischer Scien=fic Student Days in November 2013, Vilnius Lithuania ⁃ Lead a team of three people to develop a prototype of a food supplement to reduce the risk of neural degenera=on at the Start-up Weekend Ljubljana in 2014, for example, allowed me to successfully test my organiza=onal skills in context. ⁃ Introduced rhythmic gymnas=cs as a permanent aper school ac=vity at the interna=onal school in Beijing. Academic Honours and Awards ⁃ Awarded HKPFS Fellowship and addi=onal Excellence award Hong Kong, 2017-present ⁃ Roy To Community Service Award, Hong Kong, 2018 ⁃ AOTULE grant, 2018 ⁃ 3MT Finalist Hong Kong, 2018 ⁃ ASEF Fellow at Princeton University, 2016 ⁃ Awarded Interna=onal Experience Scholarship at University of O9awa, 2016 ⁃ Awarded CUPE 2626 Conference Grant for first-author presenta=on at IEEE Interna=onal Student Conference Holder of the pres=gious NSERC CGS M Scholarship Award for research at the University of O9awa,- Holder of Excellence Scholarship at University of O9awa ⁃ Selected for sponsored volunteer of the year for travel to Cambridge Bay Nunavut with Let’s Talk Science to teach STEM topics to local youth ⁃ Selected for team of four sponsored volunteers to travel to the remote northern communi=es of Eastmain and Waskaganish for Science Travels workshops ⁃ The only undergraduate to be selected for the 2013 Novar=s Regional Biocamp ⁃ Holder of Zoiss scholarship (and Golden Graduate award) for academic achievement during high school and university studies in Slovenia,- ⁃ Achieved interna=onal awards and dis=nc=ons at various compe==ons in science and mathema=cs in high school Peer Reviewed Academic Publica/ons 1. CENCEN Veronika. How can we Integrate Organic Food Produc=on and Biotechnology to Improve Resilience in Food Security? GSAED interdisciplinary conference proceedings, University of O9awa, Canada, 2016 2. CENCEN Veronika. Transfec=on of mammalian cells with shear stress in microfluidic devices. Women in Physics Canada conference abstract proceedings, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, 2016 3. CENCEN Veronika, Transfec=on of mammalian cells with shear stress in microfluidic devices, AOTULE Conference proceedings, Hanoi, 2017 Published: 1. CENCEN Veronika, HIROTANI Masako, CHAN Adrian. Comparison of Ac=ve and Passive Electrodes in Their Op=mized Electroencephalography Amplifier System. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) Interna=onal Student Conference (ISC), Carleton University, Canada, 2016. Accepted 1. CENCEN Veronika, KOTNIK Primoz, HORVAT Simon. Biotehnološki Pristopi Za Zdravljenje Debelos=/ Biotechnological Approaches In Treatment Of Obesity. Medicinski Razgledi, 2016. Other • Have lived in 5 countries and speak 6 languages (English, Slovene, French, Mandarin, Russian and Lithuanian) • Volunteer at Joystars Hong Kong Gymnas=cs • Featured profile of HKPFS fellowship page and Humans of HKUST • Mul=ple publica=ons in The Fulcrum, The Catalyst, Reader’s Digest Canada, BFKO, and various Slovenian magazines • Ac=ve on CurioCity h9p://explorecuriocity.org/Explore/Ar=cleId/5183/veronika-cencen.aspx and LabFundr h9ps://www.labfundr.ca/blog-posts/microfluidic-transfec=on-of-stem-cells • Voluntary assistance at Slovenian embassy in Canada (including contact search and event volunteering) • I hold a special interest in mathema=cs-related topics, and obtained several academic awards and dis=nc=ons at interna=onal assessments and compe==ons in the subject during primary and secondary educa=on • Featured profile in IEEE Impact blog: h9p://yp.ieee.org/veronika-cencen-interna=onal-gymnastbiomedical- engineer-and-ieee-volunteer/ • AcFve member of Canadian and Slovenian naFonal teams in rhythmic gymnasFcs. Regular par=cipa=on at compe==ons at na=onal and interna=onal FIG level, including 2013 Universiade in Kazan and Elite Canada 2016. • Qualified for NIRCA NaFonal team (top 5) in USA intercollegiate running • Performed for various dance teams in China, USA and Canada • Regular par=cipa=on at various interna=onal athle=c events (such as the 10km and World Run in Hong Kong Beijing, Vilnius, Kaunas, O9awa and Ljubljana). Recipient of Somersault Champions Challenge run series award 2015 • Valedictorian: Elected to give the gradua=on speech for Gimnazija Bežigrad interna=onal class, 2011 • Photography Exhibi=on “China Through Time" published in Guanming Daily newspaper, 2011 • Member of Ekologi Brez Meja (Ecologists Without Limits); Annual contribution to Očistimo Slovenijo local voluntary cleaning ac=on since 2009