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.
"[2]Roelofs received the Wolf Prize in Agriculture in 1982, and the National Medal of Science from President Ronald Reagan in 1983.