Scholar. Leader. Researcher. Innovator. Humanitarian. That’s Donté Lewis, whose major is cell and molecular biology. He might also add bookworm, food enthusiast, nature observer, and chef to the list.
Donté is deeply involved in Northeastern’s culture. He’s vice president of the College of Science Student Leadership Council; vice president of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; president of the Biology Club; treasurer of Northeastern’s National PanHellenic Council; member of the College of Science Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice Committee; community guide for the First-Gen Low-Income Office; and trip leader for two alternative Spring Break trips through the Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement.
During a sample management co-op at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Donté piloted a capability model to highlight the hindrances and cost efficiencies for in-lab quality control chemists and microbiologists. He is a dean’s research fund scholar at the Sive Laboratory at Northeastern and was a research assistant at Hope Lab of the National Institute on Drug Abuse in the National Institutes of Health.
Denise Douglas, program coordinator of the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute, says of Donté, “His academic record alone reflects an unyielding pursuit of knowledge.” His first research project explored the neurochemical interactions between gut bacteria and addictive behaviors. His second provided novel insight into hippocampal involvement in addiction relapse.
Donté was a key organizer for the 2025 Black in Science speaker series. “His leadership in this initiative has created a space for mentorship, networking, and inspiration for students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM,” Douglas says. Donté considers being a fall 2024 initiate into the Beta Alpha Chapter for Phi Beta Sigma, Inc., to be his greatest achievement. “Being able to be a part of something greater than myself while serving my community is everything I strive to stand for,” he says.
During his time at Northeastern, Donté has been honored with a PEAK Ascent Award twice, named to the Huntington 100, served as a Torch Scholar, and was a COS Science Connects to Innovation Award recipient.
After graduation, Donté plans to work for in biotechnology while pursuing a master’s in the life sciences. Later, he will apply to graduate schools to pursue a doctorate.
“He is the kind of student who brings his full self to every space, merging academic brilliance with a deep sense of purpose and community,” says Douglas.
