From Sputnik to Sleeping Beauty
Perry Hackett has had an outsized impact on science and on his students.
When Perry Hackett reflects on a career spanning more than four decades, he describes it as “the best time a scientist could ever live.” Having come of age during the launch of Sputnik and the first moon landing, Hackett didn't just witness the golden age of scientific discovery; he helped build it. This January, he retired as a professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, leaving behind a legacy that bridges the gap between ancient evolutionary biology and cutting-edge cancer therapy. Hackett’s journey has brought potential life-saving treatments to patients and led to the founding of companies that apply cutting-edge science to improving human health and the environment.
