R. Scott Hawley: A Pioneer in Genetics and Mentor to Many

Authors: Gregory P. Copenhaver, Monica Colaiácovo, Giovanni Bosco, Julia Squarr

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. R. Scott Hawley, a remarkable scientist and kind mentor whose impact on the field of genetics will outlive for generations. As an investigator at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and a Research Professor with the American Cancer Society, Scott’s work revolutionized our understanding of meiosis, particularly in DNA repair, synapsis, and spindle assembly.

Scott was a dedicated educator, founding the Graduate School program at Stowers and mentoring countless students. His leadership in the field was recognized with numerous honors, including election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He served as President of the Genetics Society of America and received prestigious awards such as the George W. Beadle Award and the Elizabeth W. Jones Award.

A cofounder of the Meiosis Gordon Conference, Scott brought together leading researchers, shaping the future of genetics. His groundbreaking work on chromosome behavior in Drosophila continues to inspire and guide scientific progress. Scott’s legacy is one of brilliance, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to advancing science and education. 

Despite these lofty and richly deserved titles and accolades, Scott never made people, particularly students, feel “less than”.  When people met him for the first time and asked what he did, he would typically simply say “I teach”.  But, oh what a teacher he was!  His oratory was captivating, weaving complicated ideas with threads of humor and storytelling so that you left not feeling like you had struggled to learn something but rather that the idea had always been there. He understood how to plant seeds in the loamy soil of your mind so that they sprouted and continued to grow for years to come.

“What made Scott really special was that he was personally invested in seeing those junior to him succeed. Whether that was through teaching, mentoring or generally shepherding those he came to know, Scott always went the extra mile to help.”

As PLOS and PLOS Genetics, we are incredibly grateful for Scott’s unwavering support and the countless contributions he made as one of our editors. 

Scott was more than an editor—he was a mentor, a skilled communicator, a passionate educator, and an advocate for scientific integrity. Scott’s joy for teaching and scientific discovery came through in his lectures, at scientific meetings, and in his ability to distill complex concepts and clearly present them to lay audiences. He steadfastly supported younger scientists and championed junior researchers at every chance he had. He inspired countless students, colleagues, and researchers, leaving a lasting impact on those fortunate enough to work with and learn from him. His legacy will continue to shape the field, and he will be greatly missed.

Beyond his innate gifts as a scientist, teacher and orator, Scott’s most estimable quality was the generosity with which he gave of himself to others.  Many of us are happy to help a student or colleague with a letter of recommendation…when asked.  Scott was different. Once you entered his event horizon (Scott loved all things NASA and space-related) he proactively kept you in his orbit. He, without prompting, would keep in contact, follow your progress both as a scientist and person, mentor you through honing your ideas, patiently comfort your woes and joyfully celebrate your successes – often successes he had a hand in engineering without you even knowing. Scott’s other extra-professional passion, besides space, was Disney and Disney musicals in particular – perhaps because they so perfectly aligned with his unremitting optimism for other people as captured by Elphaba in Wicked when she says: “As someone told me lately, everyone deserves the chance to fly”.  

While we mourn his loss, we also celebrate his extraordinary legacy—one that will continue to influence genetics research and mentorship for years to come. 

“Fly Scott, and we’ll do our best to keep up.”