Research Interests
Tessa Durnin graduated from Len’s aquatic insects lab with her Master of Science degree in entomology in December 2021. Back then, her thesis research entitled “Exploring the hidden diversity of winter-emerging Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera)” took a close look at the population genetics of Diamesinae present in the Minnesota Driftless Area during harsh winter seasons to identify cryptic and yet to be defined species of non-biting midges. As of January 2023, Tessa moved to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area to work as an aquatic biologist/ taxonomist for an environmental consulting firm, Normandeau Associates, Inc., where she collects, identifies, and reports to clients on benthic macroinvertebrate samples collected from all over the United States. She recently became Society for Freshwater Science certified in North America Chironomidae Taxonomy (expires May 2029) and will work towards EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) and Aquatic Arthropoda certifications as well. Additionally, Tessa assists fisheries biologists in the field with electrofishing, data processing and recording in lotic systems.