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Anna Varini

anna.varini@epfl.ch +41 21 693 56 43

Expertise

Photonic micro and nano systems, micro-fabrication, system prototyping,
physical and biomedical sensors, microscopy, metrology, system verification and data analyses.

Travail en cours

Currently, as a Senior Scientist at EPFL Nanolab, her main focus is the Stochastic Spiking Wireless Multimodal Sensory Systems (SWIMS). Within SWIMS, she applies her expertise in thin-film process development, solid-state physics, and sensing to develop functional layers for neuromorphic and adaptive electronic systems. She has authored and co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications in international journals and conferences. Her research spans sensing technologies, materials science, and micro-/nano- system prototyping.
Dr. Anna Varini received her B.Eng. degree in Physical and Biomedical Engineering from the National Technical University of Ukraine (KPI), Kyiv, in 2007, and subsequently moved to Australia.

Between 2008 and 2015, she worked as a researcher and lecturer at The University of Western Australia (UWA), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and Curtin University, focusing on the development and integration of sensor systems for chemical, physical, and biological detection. Between 2010 and 2013, she completed her Ph.D. at UWA on solid-state biosensors for measuring the ion activity of living cells.

In 2015, she moved to Switzerland to join the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and start-ups based in the EPFL Innovation Park. From 2015 to 2022, her research centred on MEMS-based systems integrated with silicon photonics. Her work in these fields included antibiotic-resistance detection at the EPFL Physics of Living Matter Laboratory, development and testing of laser-driven MEMS systems for Intel’s smart eyewear, and fabrication of MEMS and silicon-photonic micro- and nanosystems at EPFL’s Q-lab and Ligentec SA.

In 2022, Dr. Varini joined Xsensio SA in collaboration with EPFL Nanolab, contributing to the development and characterization of solid-state biochemical sensors for continuous biomarker monitoring and expanding her research toward energy-efficient materials.





Formation

Doctor of Sciences

| Biosensor based on monitoring ion exchange through living cells using the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure

2010 – 2013 UWA Perth

Prix et distinctions

Research Collaboration Awards

'Determination of bacterial resistance to antibiotics using MEMS sensors' UWA.

2015

Developers contribution of 10%

Autonomous Sonde patented technology

2014

Curtin University Innovation awards

Science and Engineering Prize Anton Kepic and the Autonomous Sonde Team

2014

Go8 Australia-Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme

"AlGaN/GaN based lab-on-chip sensing system for multiple biological measurements", Project-ID 50752694

2011

Go8 Australia-Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme

“Novel microelectronic solutions for biomedical research and technology”, D/08/13867

2010

Recherche

Doctoral Thesis

Biosensor based on monitoring ion exchange through living cells using the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure


https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/biosensor-based-on-monitoring-ion-exchange-through-living-cells-u