If you ask Fen Annarino how he ended up as a research specialist for Dr. Muir at UNC Radiology, his answer is refreshingly honest: he wasn’t exactly aiming for it—but we’re glad he landed here. “I wasn’t specifically looking for something in Radiology,” he admits, “but this job popped out at me.” It may have started with curiosity, but nearly a year in (almost to the day!), Fen’s found his groove—and a fascinating niche—in ocular blood flow research.
From Blue Crabs to Brain Scans
Fen’s road to radiology is anything but conventional. His original plan in undergrad was to pursue medical research. But then? “I really enjoyed studying animals,” he says. That led to researching the BP oil spill’s impact on blue crab larvae, followed by a job as an educator at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans—which he calls “the most fun I’ve ever had at a job.”
After several years in the zoo world, the reality of the career’s financial strain set in. “I didn’t want to be 60, working three jobs,” Fen explains. So, he pivoted again—this time earning his master’s at Marshall University, where he did field and lab work on everything from tree frogs and carnivorous plants to freshwater mussels.
Eventually, friends in North Carolina (and some gentle nudging) persuaded him to relocate to the Triangle. “One of my friends worked at UNC and spoke highly of its research environment,” Fen says. So, he took the leap—and ended up in Dr. Muir’s lab, helping it grow from the ground up.
“Fen is great to work with and has been a great help,” says Eric Muir, PhD, Associate Professor in Radiology. “Fen is smart and highly capable to assist with all aspects of conducting and managing research. Even when working on topics he doesn’t have previous experience with, Fen is puts in the effort to quickly get up to speed. Fen has been a great addition.”
What Exactly Is Heavy Water, Anyway?
Working in a new lab means Fen wears a lot of hats. He’s tackled everything from analyzing data to wrestling with the bureaucratic hydra of vendor paperwork and pharmaceutical ordering. Dr. Muir’s research focuses on ocular blood flow, and Fen’s been at the center of projects involving deuterium oxide (aka heavy water)—a less invasive, more MRI-friendly way to track how fluids move through the eye.
“He’s also looking into medications for glaucoma and Alzheimer’s,” he notes. “I never thought of Alzheimer’s affecting the eyes, but apparently that’s something that happens.”
Carnivorous Plants, Tattoos, and Tomb Raider Dreams
Outside the lab, Fen’s life is a love letter to curiosity. He describes himself with one word: “overthinking.” (Though we’d argue “fascinating” fits, too.)
He’s especially passionate about carnivorous plants—so much so he’s got a tattoo of a Sundew on his arm. His favorite? The Venus flytrap, a plant that only grows in the wild within a 60-mile radius of coastal North Carolina. “Everyone thinks they’re jungle plants,” he laughs. “They’re not!”
He also enjoys running, kayaking, and a hobby called herping—searching for reptiles and amphibians in the wild. A childhood dream of being a marine biologist or Lara Croft: Tomb Raider makes perfect sense when you hear him talk about his outdoor adventures.
If He Could…
If Fen could have a superpower? “I’d resurrect ecosystems,” he says. (No surprise there.) And if he could pick the brain of anyone in history, he’d sit down with Rachel Carson, whose book Silent Spring helped launch the American conservation movement. Her book inspired generations by highlighting that harmful chemicals are destroying the environment. Eliminating insects would also mean losing the birds that depend on them. Spring would arrive—but without the familiar chorus of chirping crickets, buzzing bees, and singing birds. The season would fall eerily silent.
“I think it would be incredibly meaningful to sit down with her—not just to share how much she’s influenced the world since her time, but also to talk about the challenges she faced as one of the first widely recognized female conservationists in the U.S. It would be heartwarming to show her the lasting impact of her work and how far the conservation movement has come, in part because of her courage and persistence.”
Gumbo, Goth Cowboys, and Good Communication
Fen’s favorite artist right now is Orville Peck, especially the melancholic vibes of “Hexie Mountains.” His ideal last meal? Chicken and sausage gumbo—a nod to his years in Louisiana, even if he’s originally from California.
When it comes to keeping in touch, Fen’s a fan of context: “Text is great for a quick question, but when your friends are scattered across the country, nothing beats a phone or video call.”
Final Words of Wisdom
His best advice to his younger self? “Not everything is set in stone; learn to adapt.” It’s a mantra he’s clearly lived by—from crab larvae to MRI scans, from zoo life to eye research, Fen Annarino has turned curiosity into a career—and made UNC Radiology all the better for it.