Lena Riabinina

Dr. Lena Riabinina is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biosciences at Durham University and a Fellow of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing. Her research focuses on genetic tool development, insect sensory neuroscience, and sensory ecology in species such as Drosophila, mosquitoes, bumblebees, and black soldier flies.

• PhD: University of Sussex (2009), studying insect visual navigation
• Postdoctoral positions: UCL, Johns Hopkins University, Imperial College, and Manchester University
• Joined Durham as Assistant Professor in 2019, promoted to Associate Professor in 2023

Research interests include:

• Genetic tools for non-model insects (e.g., mosquitoes)
• Insect olfaction and neuroethology
• Co-evolution of courtship songs and hearing in Drosophila

Recent articles explore mosquito blood-feeding patterns, bee neuroecology, and genetic expression systems. Her lab (InsectNeuroLab) actively develops interdisciplinary approaches to study insect sensory systems.

Supervises four PhD students and holds grants from the Daiwa and Sasakawa Foundations. Currently advertising self-funded PhD projects and MRes opportunities in areas like mosquito genetic tool development and AI-driven insect behavior analysis.