David Botstein, emeritus Anthony B. Evnin ‘62 Professor of Genomics at Princeton University and a key figure in the Human Genome Project, died on Feb. 27, according to a Mar. 27 announcement from Princeton University.
Botstein played an important role in shaping modern genomics and biology education. He led Princeton’s Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics after joining the university in July 2003 and was instrumental in recruiting faculty and developing new science curricula.
Coleen Murphy, director of the Lewis-Sigler Institute and James A. Elkins Jr. Professor in the Life Sciences at Princeton, said: “We mourn the passing of our former director, David Botstein, a visionary whose leadership built the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and defined the modern era of quantitative biology.” Murphy also noted his influence on generations of scientists through his commitment to intellectual rigor and integrated science education.
Botstein previously held positions at Stanford University as head of its medical school’s genetics program, vice president at Genentech, and professor at MIT before coming to Princeton. After retiring from academia in February 2015, he spent ten years working with Calico.
Shirley M. Tilghman, emeritus president of Princeton University who worked with Botstein on the Human Genome Project said: “He was one of the most intellectually deep people I’ve ever met, and he was passionate about whatever he took on.”
Botstein’s efforts led to changes in how biology is taught by making it more quantitative and interdisciplinary through programs like Quantitative and Computational Biology (QCB). Max Staller—a member of Princeton’s Class of 2008—recalled that half his closest friends were met through Integrated Science courses developed under Botstein’s guidance.
Joshua Rabinowitz, professor recruited by Botstein to LSI said: “His towering intellectual contributions and uncompromising commitment to scholarship were paired with a true love for teaching.” Alison Gammie highlighted that graduates from LSI’s doctoral program are now successful scientists across biomedical research fields.
Born in Switzerland in 1942 to Polish-Jewish parents who had fled Europe during World War II before moving to New York City after the war ended, Botstein completed degrees at Harvard University (A.B., biochemistry) and University of Michigan (Ph.D., human genetics). His early research focused on yeast genetics—a foundation for many later advances connecting basic genetic mechanisms across species.
Olga Troyanskaya—one of his former students—said: “There’s truly no way to measure the full scale of his impact. He is one of the greats.” Mark Rose described him as “a giant among scientists,” noting major impacts on bacterial genetics as well as innovations such as microarrays used today for cancer screening.
In recognition for his work—including linkage mapping using DNA polymorphisms critical for assembling a map of human genes—Botstein received numerous honors such as being an inaugural winner of the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences ($3 million), Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal (2020), Albany Prize (2010), Gruber Foundation Prize (2003), Dickson Prize (1992), Genetics Society Medal (1998), Eli Lilly Award (1978) among others.
He is survived by his wife Renée; brother Leon; sister Eva; children Ruth and Sam; and two grandchildren.
