Carissa Birznieks
@c-birznieks.bsky.social
PhD Candidate @ CU Anschutz | Diabetes, Islet Biology, Delta Cells, & More🔬| Swim/Bike/Run in my spare time | Fan of Mountains, Coffee, & Puns 🏔️☕️
Reposted by Carissa Birznieks
Reposted by Carissa Birznieks
On November 14, 1891, Sir Frederick Banting was born. He discovered insulin in 1921 and effectively made diabetes a treatable disease, when it was previously a death sentence. He sold the patent for insulin for $3 saying "insulin does not belong to me, it belongs to the world."
November 14, 2025 at 6:13 PM
On November 14, 1891, Sir Frederick Banting was born. He discovered insulin in 1921 and effectively made diabetes a treatable disease, when it was previously a death sentence. He sold the patent for insulin for $3 saying "insulin does not belong to me, it belongs to the world."
Today in lab I said, “Don’t worry, I never worry about things that are out of my control ever” and then we all laughed and laughed.
November 15, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Today in lab I said, “Don’t worry, I never worry about things that are out of my control ever” and then we all laughed and laughed.
The paranoid urge to remake every single reagent fresh and from scratch right before doing a big giant important experiment. Just in case.
November 11, 2025 at 10:48 PM
The paranoid urge to remake every single reagent fresh and from scratch right before doing a big giant important experiment. Just in case.
Science runs on data, caffeine, and lab buddies who bring you food during your experiments on a Saturday night. Feeling extra thankful for the amazing humans I work with today 😭🍝
November 9, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Science runs on data, caffeine, and lab buddies who bring you food during your experiments on a Saturday night. Feeling extra thankful for the amazing humans I work with today 😭🍝
When your team takes “sugar science” a little too literally… Happy Halloween from the Ben&Ms! Studying diabetes with this crew is such a treat. 🍬
October 31, 2025 at 7:35 PM
When your team takes “sugar science” a little too literally… Happy Halloween from the Ben&Ms! Studying diabetes with this crew is such a treat. 🍬
Reposted by Carissa Birznieks
October 17, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Honored to share that I’ve been awarded an NIH T32 Predoctoral Research Fellowship! As I start my 3rd year of PhD training, I’m incredibly thankful for the mentorship, encouragement, and community that make this work possible. I'm excited and humbled by the opportunity to keep learning and growing.
October 13, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Honored to share that I’ve been awarded an NIH T32 Predoctoral Research Fellowship! As I start my 3rd year of PhD training, I’m incredibly thankful for the mentorship, encouragement, and community that make this work possible. I'm excited and humbled by the opportunity to keep learning and growing.
So excited to see Children's Hospital Colorado ranked #3 in the US for Pediatric Endocrinology this year! I'm incredibly proud of this institution and thrilled to work with physicians, nurses, and researchers transforming diabetes care every day. 🥳🔬💉
health.usnews.com/best-hospita...
health.usnews.com/best-hospita...
health.usnews.com
October 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
So excited to see Children's Hospital Colorado ranked #3 in the US for Pediatric Endocrinology this year! I'm incredibly proud of this institution and thrilled to work with physicians, nurses, and researchers transforming diabetes care every day. 🥳🔬💉
health.usnews.com/best-hospita...
health.usnews.com/best-hospita...
Annual Benninger/Hughes lab Grad Student meet-up — equal parts friendship and science! Whether in Madrid or the Midwest, always grateful for time spent talking science (and life) with this islet biology buddy 🧫🔬☕️
September 28, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Annual Benninger/Hughes lab Grad Student meet-up — equal parts friendship and science! Whether in Madrid or the Midwest, always grateful for time spent talking science (and life) with this islet biology buddy 🧫🔬☕️
When you spend months working on a grant and it's finally submitted:
a man in a suit and tie sitting in front of a framed certificate of authenticity
ALT: a man in a suit and tie sitting in front of a framed certificate of authenticity
media.tenor.com
August 5, 2025 at 8:40 PM
When you spend months working on a grant and it's finally submitted:
Told my brother I was struggling to come up with a list of my strengths for a fellowship application, and he recommended that I just list my 1 rep max weight for bench, deadlift, and back squat...which is honestly the funniest advice I've ever received 😂
July 16, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Told my brother I was struggling to come up with a list of my strengths for a fellowship application, and he recommended that I just list my 1 rep max weight for bench, deadlift, and back squat...which is honestly the funniest advice I've ever received 😂
If I ever say “I’m going to go clear my head”, what I really mean is “I’m going to go eat Uncrustables on top of a mountain”.
July 5, 2025 at 10:08 PM
If I ever say “I’m going to go clear my head”, what I really mean is “I’m going to go eat Uncrustables on top of a mountain”.
Reposted by Carissa Birznieks
Lai Jāņos izdodas smelties spēku un gaišumu visam gadam! Līksmu un drošu līgošanu tautiešiem Latvijā un plašajā pasaulē!
June 23, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Lai Jāņos izdodas smelties spēku un gaišumu visam gadam! Līksmu un drošu līgošanu tautiešiem Latvijā un plašajā pasaulē!
Anyone trying to talk to a second-year PhD student the week before comps...
June 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Anyone trying to talk to a second-year PhD student the week before comps...
Comp Exam stress hits different, but so does having lab mates who constantly support, encourage, and cheer you on. Forever grateful for my people.
June 3, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Comp Exam stress hits different, but so does having lab mates who constantly support, encourage, and cheer you on. Forever grateful for my people.
Reposted by Carissa Birznieks
Congratulations LATVIA for making it through with that excellent performance tonight!!
BALTIC SEA REPRESENT! 😄 #ESC
For the very first time we have all 5 Nordics and all 3 Baltics into the Grand Final (and the first time all Nordics since 2014).
BALTIC SEA REPRESENT! 😄 #ESC
For the very first time we have all 5 Nordics and all 3 Baltics into the Grand Final (and the first time all Nordics since 2014).
May 15, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Congratulations LATVIA for making it through with that excellent performance tonight!!
BALTIC SEA REPRESENT! 😄 #ESC
For the very first time we have all 5 Nordics and all 3 Baltics into the Grand Final (and the first time all Nordics since 2014).
BALTIC SEA REPRESENT! 😄 #ESC
For the very first time we have all 5 Nordics and all 3 Baltics into the Grand Final (and the first time all Nordics since 2014).
Thank you St. George for an unforgettable weekend! Between the brutal course and racing in 96 degree heat, this was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done - mentally and physically. Loved the opportunity to do something so amazing and challenging in such a beautiful place!
May 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Thank you St. George for an unforgettable weekend! Between the brutal course and racing in 96 degree heat, this was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done - mentally and physically. Loved the opportunity to do something so amazing and challenging in such a beautiful place!
The best part of swimming in the mornings is definitely Jazz Lifeguard, who has decided that the early morning pool crew should only listen to Smooth and Freeform Jazz, and honestly, this decision has kind of grown on me over the past few months…
a cartoon penguin is playing a saxophone with music notes behind him
ALT: a cartoon penguin is playing a saxophone with music notes behind him
media.tenor.com
May 6, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The best part of swimming in the mornings is definitely Jazz Lifeguard, who has decided that the early morning pool crew should only listen to Smooth and Freeform Jazz, and honestly, this decision has kind of grown on me over the past few months…
Few lessons in research have stuck with me as much as the post-doc who told me (during my second week in the lab, during my sophomore year of college) “If you drink the ethidium bromide, you will definitely die.”
April 16, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Few lessons in research have stuck with me as much as the post-doc who told me (during my second week in the lab, during my sophomore year of college) “If you drink the ethidium bromide, you will definitely die.”
Reason 1,547 to get your PhD in Colorado: Sunday morning tree runs 🏂🏔️ ➡️ Sunday afternoon long runs 🏃🏽♀️➡️🌞.
April 7, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Reason 1,547 to get your PhD in Colorado: Sunday morning tree runs 🏂🏔️ ➡️ Sunday afternoon long runs 🏃🏽♀️➡️🌞.
You spill something ONE time and this is what greets you in lab the very next day 😒
April 4, 2025 at 7:16 PM
You spill something ONE time and this is what greets you in lab the very next day 😒
Told my labmates I was a little nervous about an upcoming research talk, and they were kind enough to remind me that all I have to lose is “my dignity” and “my entire scientific reputation” so…I feel much better now (🥲)
March 19, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Told my labmates I was a little nervous about an upcoming research talk, and they were kind enough to remind me that all I have to lose is “my dignity” and “my entire scientific reputation” so…I feel much better now (🥲)
Playing a new game I've just invented called "write an entire manuscript in a weekend", and I'm playing against myself, and it's not very fun, and also there's not really a prize (except finally getting it done). Stay tuned to see if I win!
March 16, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Playing a new game I've just invented called "write an entire manuscript in a weekend", and I'm playing against myself, and it's not very fun, and also there's not really a prize (except finally getting it done). Stay tuned to see if I win!
One thing about our lab is we will take any excuse to be silly and run with it (literally). First Annual Lab Onesie 5K was a great success🦒
March 8, 2025 at 8:29 PM
One thing about our lab is we will take any excuse to be silly and run with it (literally). First Annual Lab Onesie 5K was a great success🦒