Robert F. Roberts, Ph.D.

Robert F. Roberts, Ph.D.

  • Professor and Head of Food Science
206 Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building
University Park, PA 16802

Areas of Expertise

  • Microbiology
  • Dairy Products Processing
  • Ice Cream
  • Yogurt
  • Non-dairy Frozen Desserts

Education

  • University of Minnesota, Ph.D., Food Science, May 1991
  • South Dakota State University, M.S., Dairy Science, August 1986
  • University of Vermont, B.S. Animal Science, May 1984

Research Interests

My primary role is administration of the Food Science Department. 

My current research program at Penn State is focused on dairy products with an emphasis on cultured dairy products, ice cream and other frozen desserts.  Ongoing research in my lab includes manufacture of yogurt-based, probiotic-containing beverage for use in clinical trials, evaluation of milk protein isolate functionality in low fat ice cream and characterization of non-dairy proteins for use in frozen desserts. 

I also lead outreach programs focused on the dairy foods industry including:

  • The Penn State Ice Cream Short Course
  • Ice Cream 101


Publications

Context matters: environmental microbiota from ice cream processing facilities affected the inhibitory performance of two lactic acid bacteria strains against Listeria monocytogenes
Microbiology spectrum, Rolon, Laura, Rolon, M. Laura, Chandross-Cohen, Tyler, Kaylegian, Kerry, Roberts, Robert F., Kovac, Jasna, 2023

The effect of high-pressure jet processing on cocoa stability in chocolate milk
Journal of Dairy Science, Roberts, R, Tran, Michele, Coupland, J, Voronin, Grace, Lewis-Voronin, Grace, Roberts, R. F., Tran, Michelle, Lewis-Voronin, Grace, Coupland, J. N., Ziegler, G. R., Harte, F. M., 2021

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis bb-12 protects against antibiotic-induced functional and compositional changes in human fecal microbiome
Nutrients, Merenstein, Daniel, Fraser, Claire M., Roberts, Robert F., Liu, Tian, Grant-Beurmann, Silvia, Tan, Tina P., Smith, Keisha Herbin, Cronin, Tom, Martin, Olivia A., Sanders, Mary Ellen, Lucan, Sean C., Kane, Maureen A., 2021

Matrix Effects on the Delivery Efficacy of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 on Fecal Microbiota, Gut Transit Time, and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Healthy Young Adults
mSphere, Ba, Zhaoyong, Lee, Yujin, Meng, Huicui, Kris-Etherton, Penny M., Rogers, Connie J., Lewis, Zachary, Mills, David, Furumoto, E, Rolon, M, Fleming, Jennifer A., Roberts, Robert F., 2021

Synergistic and antagonistic ingredient interactions as a sugar reduction strategy in chocolate milk
Journal of Sensory Studies, Riak, Alden, Hopfer, Helene, Riak, Alden, Roberts, Robert, Ziegler, G, Hayes, John E., Hayes, J, Ziegler, Gregory, 2021

Freezing kinetics and microstructure of ice cream from high-pressure-jet processing of ice cream mix
Journal of Dairy Science, Voronin, G.L., Ning, G, Coupland, John, Roberts, Robert, Harte, F.M., 2021

Transformation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Apilactobacillus kunkeei is influenced by recipient cell growth temperature, vector replicon, and DNA methylation
Journal of Microbiological Methods, Welker, Dennis L., Crowley, Bailey L., Evans, Justin B., Welker, Martin H., Broadbent, Jeff R., Roberts, Robert F., Mills, David A., 2020

The 2018 Guidelines for Initial IFT Approval of undergraduate food science and food technology programs
Journal of Food Science Education, Santau, Alexandra O., MacDonald, Ruth S., Roberts, Robert R., 2020

Effect of high-pressure-jet processing on the physiochemical properties of low-fat ice cream mix
Journal of Dairy Science, Voronin, G, Roberts, Robert, Felix, Tara L., Coupland, John N., Harte, Federico, 2020

Effect of high-pressure-jet processing on the viscosity and foaming properties of pasteurized whole milk
Journal of Dairy Science, Tran, M., Roberts, R., Felix, T. L., Harte, F. M., 2018

Effect of fat content on the physical properties and consumer acceptability of vanilla ice cream
Journal of Dairy Science, Rolon, M. Laura, Bakke, Alyssa J., Coupland, John N., Hayes, John E., Roberts, Robert F., 2017

Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12® on the lipid/lipoprotein profile and short chain fatty acids in healthy young adults: A randomized controlled trial
Nutrition Journal, Lee, Yujin, Ba, Zhaoyong, Roberts, Robert F., Rogers, Connie J., Fleming, Jennifer A., Meng, Huicui, Furumoto, Emily J., Kris-Etherton, Penny M., 2017

Consumption of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 in yogurt reduced expression of TLR-2 on peripheral blood-derived monocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in young adults
Zeitschrift fur Ernahrungswissenschaft, Meng, Huicui, Ba, Zhaoyong, Lee, Yujin, Peng, Jiayu, Lin, Junli, Fleming, Jennifer A., Furumoto, Emily J., Roberts, Robert F., Kris-Etherton, Penny M., Rogers, Connie J., 2017

Safety of Bifidobacterium animalis Subsp. Lactis (B. lactis) Strain BB-12-Supplemented Yogurt in Healthy Children
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Tan, Tina P., Ba, Zhaoyong, Sanders, Mary E., D'Amico, Frank J., Roberts, Robert F., Smith, Keisha H., Merenstein, Daniel J., 2017

Consumption of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 impacts upper respiratory tract infection and the function of NK and T cells in healthy adults
Die Nahrung, Meng, Huicui, Lee, Yujin, Ba, Zhaoyong, Peng, Jiayu, Lin, Junli, Boyer, Alexander S., Fleming, Jennifer A., Furumoto, Emily J., Roberts, Robert F., Kris-Etherton, Penny M., Rogers, Connie J., 2016

Consumption of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 in yogurt reduced expression of TLR-2 on peripheral blood-derived monocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in young adults.
European journal of nutrition, Meng, H, Ba, Z, Lee, Yi, Peng, J, Lin, Jyh, Fleming, Jennifer, Furumoto, Emily, Roberts, Robert, Kris-Etherton, Penny, Rogers, Connie, 2015

Development of a rapid SNP-typing assay to differentiate Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis strains used in probiotic-supplemented dairy products
Journal of Dairy Science, Lomonaco, Sara, Furumoto, Emily J., Loquasto, Joseph R., Morra, Patrizia, Grassi, Ausilia, Roberts, Robert F., 2015

Safety of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis (B. Lactis) strain BB-12-supplemented yogurt in healthy adults on antibiotics: A phase I safety study
Gut Microbes, Merenstein, Daniel J., Tan, Tina P., Molokin, Aleksey, Smith, Keisha Herbin, Roberts, Robert F., Shara, Nawar M., Mete, Mihriye, Sanders, Mary Ellen, Solano-Aguilar, Gloria, 2015

Use of Interactive Laser-Scanning Imaging Cytometry (ILIC) for Real-Time Cytotoxicity Assessment of Bacteriocins Against Cultured Mammalian Cells.., Roberts, Robert, Kunze, E., Rashid, K., Murinda, S., 2015

Encapsulation of Aqueous Components in Solid Fat Beads: Studies of a Model Dye and a Probiotic Culture, Wolfe, Lindsay, Roberts, Robert, Coupland, J, 2015

In vitro production of IL-6 and IFN-γ is influenced by dietary variables and predicts upper respiratory tract infection incidence and severity respectively in young adults
Frontiers in Immunology, Meng, Huicui, Lee, Y, Ba, Zhaoyong, Fleming, Jennifer A., Furumoto, E, Roberts, Robert F., Kris-Etherton, Penny M., Rogers, Connie, 2015

Development of a rapid SNP-typing assay to differentiate Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis strains used in probiotic-supplemented dairy products
Journal of Dairy Science, Lomonaco, Sara, Furumoto, E, Loquasto, Joseph, Morra, Patrizia, Grassi, Ausilia, Roberts, Robert, 2014

Short-term, daily intake of yogurt containing Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bf-6 (LMG 24384) does not affect colonic transit time in women
British Journal of Nutrition, Merenstein, Daniel J., D'Amico, Frank, Palese, Caren, Hahn, Alexander, Sparenborg, Jessy, Tan, Tina, Scott, Hillary, Polzin, Kayla, Kolberg, Lore, Roberts, Robert, 2014