In 1971, he received a Doctor of Philosophy from McMaster University, working under R. G. Summers-Gill with a dissertation titled Properties of the odd-odd cobalt nuclei.

After completing his Ph.D., Robertson joined Michigan State University as a postdoctoral fellow and later became a faculty member, earning the rank of Professor of Physics in 1981.

[3] During his tenure, he conducted pioneering experiments in nuclear astrophysics, including resolving the origins of lithium-6 through sensitive deuterium-helium-4 capture measurements.

[4] He also contributed to parity violation and nuclear reaction studies, and his research identified the first isobaric quintet of states in nuclei.

[6] His work on tritium beta decay provided constraints on the electron neutrino mass, showing it was insufficient to close the universe gravitationally.