Wendell L. Roelofs

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Wendell L. Roelofs (born July 26, 1938) was the first researcher to characterize insect sex pheromone structures, developing microchemical techniques for the isolation and identification of pheromone components.

Wendell Lee Roelofs
Born (1938-07-26) July 26, 1938 (age 86)
Educationbachelor's degree (chemistry, 1960)
PhD 1964
NIH post doctoral fellowship
Alma materCentral College in Pella, Iowa
Indiana University Bloomington
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Occupationbiochemist
Employer(s)Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Entomology-Geneva
Known forDeveloped insect sex attractants for pest control
TitleLiberty Hyde Bailey Professor of Insect Biochemistry
Political partyRepublican[1]
Spouse(s)Marilyn Joyce Kuiken (c:a 1960 until ?)
Donna R. Gray (1989 until ?)
Joanna Roelofs, Jan. 13, 2005
ChildrenBrenda Jo, Caryn Jean, Jeffrey Lee, and Kevin Jon
Parent(s)Edward and Edith Beyers Roelofs
Relativestwo brothers, one chemist, the other an electrical engineer
Awards1973 J Everett Bussart Award, Entomol Soc Am
1977 Alexander von Humboldt Award
1990 Silver Medal, Int Soc Chem Ecol
1982 Wolf Prize in Agriculture
1983 National Medal of Science
2001 American Chemical Society's Kenneth A. Spencer Award in agricultural chemistry
1985 DSc, Central College

1988 Hobart and William Smith Colleges
1988 Indiana University
1989 Lund University, Sweden
1989 Free University Brussels, Belgium
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Education and career

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Roelofs obtained his BS in chemistry in 1960 from Central College in Pella, Iowa and his PhD in organic chemistry from Indiana University in 1964. He is the Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor of Insect Biochemistry in the Department of Entomology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

In his spare time, Roelofs coache[d] a youth league football team of kids aged eleven and twelve. Roelofs likened a cooperative effort in the laboratory to teamwork in football. With a coach's natural ability, he fostered an atmosphere where people could contribute their academic strengths and interests. "With our wide range of interests, we can always follow the most interesting lead whether it's my area of expertise or not," .... "That's how we stay at the forefront. It's synergistic. There's more creativity among us all."[2]

Award

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Roelofs received the National Medal of Science from President Ronald Reagan in 1983.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Wendell Lee Roelofs". The Complete Marquis Who's Who. Marquis Who's Who. 2010. Gale K2013820822. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  2. ^ a b "Wendell L. Roelofs". World of Chemistry. Gale. 2006. Gale K2432100357. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  3. ^ "Wendell Roelofs". Cornell University. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  4. ^ "Entomology Faculty (Digital Measures) : Wendell Roelofs". Cornell University. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  5. ^ "Wendell L. Roelofs". American Men & Women of Science: A Biographical Directory of Today's Leaders in Physical, Biological, and Related Sciences. Detroit: Gale. 2008. Gale K3099126155. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
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