Scott received a
PhD from the
University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1985. He joined the faculty at Rochester the same year as an assistant professor of computer science. Scott was chair of the computer science department from 1996 until 1999, when he was succeeded by
Mitsunori Ogihara. He served again as interim chair from July to December 2007 and from July to December 2017. In 2001, Scott received the University of Rochester’s
Robert and Pamela Goergen Award for Distinguished Achievement and Artistry in Undergraduate Teaching. ==Research==