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Author: Chris Givens

I’m a PhD candidate in the Tzima lab at UNC, studying forces and how they shape blood vessels. I specifically study atherosclerosis, which is the disease that clogs vessels with unhealthy plaques. In addition to my research, I am also interested in building trust between the public and the scientists they fund. The implications of biomedical research are increasingly personal and technical, so effective communication between scientists and the public is key to ensuring the continuation of interesting and effective research. I am the former Content Editor for The Pipettepen. My interests include writing about weird bits of nature, the history of science, drug resistant infections, and bioethics. Oh, and let’s not forget about beer brewing.

Blog / Eat Plastic? Don’t Mind if I Do!

March 31, 2016 / Chris Givens /

Humans do not find plastic bottles tasty. Try as we might, ingestion and digestion of an Auquafina bottle makes for a bad dinner. On the other hand, some bacteria see…

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Biology Chemistry Environmental Science Evolutionary Biology Microbiology

Blog / Drug Resistance 1-2-3

December 31, 2015February 16, 2016 / Chris Givens /

Recently, I read an article in The Atlantic by Ed Yong, an experienced science writer whom I admire. In this article, Mr. Yong describes a study commissioned by the Wellcome…

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Biology Drug Resistant Bacteria Everyday Questions Medicine Microbiology Science News Scientific Communication

Blog / The Excellent Journey of Bob Bagnell

October 27, 2015October 7, 2019 / Chris Givens /

As I enter the Microscopy Services Laboratory (MSL), a soft southern accent greets me: “Come in- want a cucumber? Help yourself!” Dr. Bob Bagnell, the faculty director of the MSL,…

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Scientific Imaging Scientists UNC-CH Research Unsung Heroes

Blog / Need a Mental Incubator? Try your shower!

June 4, 2015March 1, 2016 / Chris Givens /

I am not a morning person. Often, rising from bed seems like harder work than any experiment I will do in the coming day. Coffee helps, but my morning shower…

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Everyday Questions Personal Hygiene Psychology Weird Science

Blog / TBT: Darwin’s Doodles

May 28, 2015February 2, 2016 / Chris Givens /

The image before you is known as Darwin’s tree of life. Today, most scientists immediately recognize it as a basic idea in evolutionary theory; yet when Darwin drew it in…

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Charles Darwin Evolutionary Biology Genetics TBT

Blog / Move over, Mendel

May 2, 2015February 2, 2016 / Chris Givens /

Recently featured in Science, Valentino Gantz and Ethan Bier have developed a novel genome editing method that subverts traditional heritability. Termed the mutagenic chain reaction, this process  can insert new…

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Biology CRISPR Fruit Flies Genetics Science News Weird Science

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