The reported resurrection of the long-extinct dire wolf is a significant scientific development, but the animal appears more like a genetically altered gray wolf and not the species that existed thousands of years ago, a Northeastern expert says.

“There is real technological innovation here,” says Ronald Sandler, a professor of philosophy and director of the Ethics Institute at Northeastern University.

“It’s a genetically modified gray wolf that has some amazing genetic and morphological features because they’ve not been instantiated for thousands of years,” he says. “But the important question to ask is not whether these are dire wolves, but rather how these biotechnology innovations advance ongoing conservation efforts for existing species.”

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Photo courtesy of AP Images

OAKLAND, Calif. — Ariana Mechem wants to understand what causes neurological disorders, either by working directly with patients or by doing research.

Or possibly both.

Mechem, a junior behavioral neuroscience major at Northeastern University, worked two co-op jobs last year — as a behavioral therapist with young children who have autism and as a research assistant in Northeastern’s Brain Game Center. She says the experiential learning helped her formulate her career objectives.

“I wanted to be able to compare research to being a behavioral therapist, which was originally my pathway,” she says. “This helped me decide which route I wanted to go after I graduate.”

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Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Prepare for 24 hours of excitement and philanthropy at Northeastern University’s Giving Day—an event dedicated to rallying alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends in support of the university and the College of Science. This year marks the 8th annual celebration of Giving Day at Northeastern.

What sets this day apart? Giving Day is a moment for the entire community to come together, showing their solidarity and pride in supporting the university’s mission. When you contribute on Giving Day, your donation goes even further, amplifying its impact as it unlocks additional contributions from generous benefactors through our timed challenges. Witness the progress unfold in real-time on our website.

When does Giving Day occur? Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 10. While most challenges and leaderboards will be activated on the day itself, you can participate in the Early Access giving period by making your donation now. If your schedule is packed on April 10, don’t worry—your contribution made beforehand will still count towards our Giving Day totals.

Get a jumpstart on Giving Day with these easy ways to support the College of Science!

The Advancing Women in Science Scholarship supports the endeavors of recipients, which in the past included working at an animal medical center and doing research on circadian rhythm biology. Challenge! When 50 donors make a gift to the Advancing Women in Science Fund, an additional $10,000 gift from Dorothea Schlosser and Tom Kopczynski PNT ’24, ’26 will be released.

The Bridge to Science Fund supports a transformative Northeastern University initiative that empowers Boston Public Schools students to explore mathematics, chemistry, physics, and life sciences while fostering college readiness and scientific confidence. Challenge! When the College of Science has raised $8,000, an anonymous donor will release an additional $8,000 to the Bridge to Science Fund.

The COS Dean’s Fund supports the existing and emerging priorities of the College of Science as articulated by the Dean. Currently, this fund promotes leadership in areas like belonging and equity, science entrepreneurship programs, valuable research opportunities, and access to global experiences. Challenge! When the College of Science receives gifts from 100 donors to any COS fund, an generous donor will release $10,000 to the COS Dean’s Fund.

The recipients of COS Dean’s Scholarship will be selected by the Dean of the College of Science (or his or her designees). The Dean will determine the scholarship requirements to help recruit and retention students. Challenge! When the College of Science receives gifts from an additional 100 donors to any COS Fund, another generous donor will release $10,000 to the College of Science Dean’s Scholarship Fund.

The COS Co-op Support Fund benefits students who are working in non-paying or low-paying co-op positions by providing stipends, airfare and other travel costs, housing costs, and/or other expenses directly related to their participation.

The COS Research Co-op Fund provides stipends for students who work in a non-paying or low-paying co-op in a College of Science faculty member’s laboratory and are engaged in scientific research.

The COS Equity Action Program Fund provides student support such as tuition assistance, co-op support, undergraduate research, sponsorship, conference attendance, and other educational and career development opportunities.

The Jacob Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in memory of Jacob Davis who would have been a graduate of Northeastern University School of Science, Class of 2027, with a degree in behavioral neuroscience. This scholarship will be awarded to one or more full-time College of Science undergraduate students. Challenge! When 35 donors make a gift to the Jacob Davis Scholarship Fund, a $5,000 gift from a generous donor will be released.

The Ocean Genome Legacy Endowed Fund supports the Ocean Genome Legacy Center, a biorepository dedicated to creating a global biobank housing the DNA blueprints (genomes) of a broad cross-section of marine species. Our aim is to preserve and provide access to this global genomic legacy, to support understanding and protection of our planet’s greatest ecosystem.

College of Science Department and Program Funds support priorities, such as providing undergraduate and graduate students with valuable education and research opportunities alongside renowned faculty, conference participation and travel costs, and access to cutting-edge technology and lab equipment.

• Biology Department Fund
• Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department Fund
• Marine and Environmental Sciences Fund
• Mathematics Department Fund
• Physics Department Fund
• Psychology Department Fund
• Behavioral Neuroscience Program Fund
• Biochemistry Program Fund

Challenge! When 100 donors make a gift to their favorite department’s discretionary fund, a $10,000 gift from John and Anne James will be released to the COS Dean’s Fund.

When you choose to support the College of Science, you’re delivering an experiential education and developing the next generation of scientific leaders and their research.

Thank you for your continued support!

This article has been updated to reflect 2025 Giving Day details.

When Juliet Davidow was a teenager, she noticed something curious: Even though she and her friends shared similar life experiences, their outcomes often looked very different.

“Some teens I was friends with came through their adolescence relatively unscathed, whereas others were less fortunate,” says Davidow, an assistant professor of psychology at Northeastern University.

That early observation sparked a lasting interest in how people grow and change. In college, Davidow began studying how the human brain develops over time — and how that development influences thoughts, emotions and behavior.

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Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University