Meet EPA Researcher Dan Tettenhorst
EPA chemist Dan Tettenhorst performs research work on developing analytical methods for various pesticides and fungicides, harmful algal toxins, and PFAS in drinking water and ambient water.
Tell us about your background.
I was born and raised in Cincinnati and earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Cincinnati. I worked as a bench chemist and then transitioned to managing commercial environmental laboratories before joining the EPA in 2010.
How does your science matter?
Protecting our nation’s drinking water is one of the most important missions of the EPA. My research helps ensure our drinking water is safe and compliant with federal law related to the contaminant candidate list and the unregulated contaminant monitoring rule. Developing methods to measure chemical contaminants accurately and reliably is an important step in that process.
When did you first know you wanted to be a researcher?
I was interested in science all the way back to when I was in grade school. I had a natural curiosity about how things work. If I did not understand something, then I wanted to pick up a book and read about it and that led me down the path to becoming a scientist and researcher.
What impact do you see your research having?
The methods that I develop may be used to collect national occurrence data on harmful chemicals in our drinking water. We all need access to clean drinking water and this occurrence data gives us important information used in the regulatory process to protect our water.
If you weren’t a scientist, what would you be doing?
If I could do anything I would live in a warm place where I could see a beach and ocean every day but still be able to go on a long hike in a forest as well. If I had to pick a realistic alternative career it would be a financial advisor or maybe an insurance actuary. Anything where I could review and play around with numbers or statistics. Playing guitar in a rock band would be my fun option.
Any advice for students considering a career in science?
Students should explore different options by talking to people who are in science related fields. A small number of people enter college and know exactly what they want to do with a career and that may be especially difficult in scientific fields. Students should strive to be a well-rounded student. The science courses are obviously important, but research must be summarized and published so learning to write effectively is a necessary skill.
What do you think the coolest scientific discovery was and why?
This is a tough question because there have been so many important discoveries. I would say advances in medicine as a general category and specifically the discovery of antibiotics. Scientific discoveries in the medical field have saved many millions of lives. Research work in the development of artificial intelligence has some amazing opportunities to benefit humans moving forward – if used judiciously and ethically.
What do you think will be our biggest scientific challenge in the next 20/50/100 years?
The most immediate challenge is supply and demand of fresh water and the aging water infrastructure. The western parts of the United States are already facing huge shortages in reservoirs to water crops and supply drinking water. The water supply may be somewhat cyclical based on weather, however the overall downward trend in supply level in the last 25 years is disturbing. I was recently in southern Florida and several times the drinking water supply lines failed completely or lost so much pressure water could not be delivered effectively. People had to go without water for extended periods of time. In the long term, we need to learn to better conserve energy sources and pivot away from fossil fuels by developing alternative clean technologies. Imagine a world in 50+ years where we have run out of fossil fuel sources.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the researcher alone. EPA does not endorse the opinions or positions expressed.