Wendell L. Roelofs  was the first researcher to characterize insect sex pheromone structures, developing microchemical techniques for the isolation and identification of pheromone components. Roelofs obtained his B.S. in chemistry in 1960 from Central College in Pella, Iowa and his Ph.D. 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. Roelofs received the National Medal of Science from President Ronald Reagan in 1983. Wendell Lee Roelofs was born on July 26, 1938, in Orange City, Iowa, to Edward and Edith Beyers Roelofs. Received his undergraduate training at Central College of Pella, Iowa and his PH. D. at Indiana University in 1964.