Robert M. Sobel, Ph.D.

Faculty: Controlling Delivery of Food Ingredients Through Microencapsulation

Robert Sobel directs technology and innovation efforts at FONA International in the area of new and novel flavor encapsulation delivery systems. Areas of focus include customizable carrier systems for a variety of patent pending microencapsulation techniques surrounding the FONATECH™ line of flavors and ingredients.

Dr. Sobel received a B.S. in Chemistry, Minor in Physics from Northern Illinois University, his M.A. in Educational Leadership from Aurora University, and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Northern Illinois University. Graduate research emphasis includes physical chemistry and unified separation science. Dr. Sobel has taught general chemistry, quantitative chemical analysis, and instrumental analysis. He has published manuscripts in the Journal of Chemical Education and Perfumer & Flavorist. Dr. Sobel has given a variety of technical symposia on analysis of flavor encapsulates, challenges of microencapsulation of flavors, real-time reaction monitoring and flavor analysis using surface acoustic wave microsensor arrays and artificial neural networks, and design of experiments for scalability and quality improvement of spray drying flavorants.

Dr. Sobel belongs to the following professional societies: The American Chemical Society (Separations Division), Institute of Food Technologist, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.