Scott received his PhD in Chemistry from Harvard University, working with Stuart Schreiber on the synthesis and development of new probes to manipulate cellular function. After realizing a desire to work on a fundamental behavioral problem using molecular genetics integrated with neurophysiology, he did a postdoc with Jeff Friedman at Rockefeller University and also worked in Karel Svoboda’s lab (then at Cold Spring Harbor) to map molecularly-defined neural circuits regulating feeding behavior. At Janelia Farm, Scott has been focused on understanding the circuit mechanisms underlying basic motivations such as hunger.