Donté Alexander (Alex) Stevens, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at Scripps Research, is one of 25 exceptional early-career scientists awarded the prestigious Hanna H. Gray Fellowship by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). The fellowship provides up to $1.5 million per fellow over the course of eight years, empowering fellows to pursue their research during their training and transition to independent academic positions.

“Being recognized by HHMI is a transformative opportunity, and I’m deeply honored to join such an inspiring cohort of scientists,” says Stevens. “This milestone isn’t just a reflection of my individual efforts but also of the incredible mentors, colleagues and community who have supported me throughout my academic career. Receiving this award reaffirms my commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists and pursuing high-risk, high-reward science that pushes boundaries and challenges existing paradigms.”

In the lab of Keren Lasker, PhD, Stevens is advancing the understanding of autophagy—a fundamental cellular process that removes damaged organelles and proteins to maintain cellular health. His research focuses on biomolecular condensates, which regulate autophagy by interacting with cellular membranes. By engineering synthetic tools to probe the physical principles behind these interactions, Stevens aims to uncover insights that could lead to therapeutic innovations for diseases associated with autophagy defects, such as certain cancers, neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic illnesses.

“HHMI is committed to investing in scientists who dare to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our lifetime,” says HHMI Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer Leslie Vosshall, PhD. “Our Hanna Gray Fellows are not only exceptional scientists, but they are also leaders who have proven their dedication to creating a more inclusive future for science.”

Since its inception in 2016, the Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program has invested over $190 million in more than 140 fellows—many of whom now lead successful, independent labs across the U.S. In addition to financial support, fellows join a vibrant community dedicated to advancing science while creating inclusive research environments.