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. She leads the InsectNeuroLab, focusing on genetic tool development, sensory neuroscience, and sensory ecology in insects such as Drosophila, mosquitoes, bumblebees, and black soldier flies. Her research bridges molecular biology, neuroethology, and ecological applications.

Dr. Riabinina holds a PhD from the University of Sussex (2009) and has held postdoctoral positions at UCL, Johns Hopkins University, Imperial College London, and the University of Manchester. Her work includes advancing genetic tools for non-model insects, studying olfactory systems, and exploring insect behavior in ecological contexts.

Her research interests emphasize:

• Genetic tool development for mosquitoes and other insects
• Neuroethology of olfaction and sensory processing
• Insect behavior and ecology, with applications to disease control and pollinator conservation

Recent work includes studies on Culex mosquito feeding patterns, bumblebee neuroecology, and zinc sensing mechanisms in insects. She supervises multiple PhD and MSc students and collaborates internationally on projects ranging from malaria vector biology to AI-driven insect behavior analysis.

Her lab actively seeks to apply genetic innovations to address ecological and biomedical challenges, such as improving mosquito control strategies and understanding pollinator decline mechanisms.