Scott Roberts

Scott Roberts, PhD is a Professor in the Health Behavior and Health Equity department at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He serves as Associate Director of the National Poll on Healthy Aging and Co-Director of the Dual Degree Program in Public Health and Genetic Counseling. Dr. Roberts teaches courses in survey research, public health ethics, and genetics in health behavior.

Dr. Roberts holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan (1999) and a BA in English from Duke University (1992). His research focuses on two primary areas: promoting healthy aging among older adults and addressing the ethical, legal, and social implications of advances in genetics and genomics. Within healthy aging, his interests include mental health and aging, promoting brain health and reducing dementia risk, and providing education and support for those affected by Alzheimer's disease. Regarding genetics, he examines ethical and psychosocial issues in disclosing genetic test information, participant motivations for genetic testing, and the psychological impact of test results.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on workplace genetic testing, Alzheimer's disease biomarkers, and healthy aging initiatives. These works span multiple disciplines including genetics, geriatrics, ethics, and public health. The research demonstrates a consistent emphasis on understanding how genetic information impacts individuals' psychological well-being and health behaviors, particularly among older adults. His work with the National Poll on Healthy Aging provides valuable national data on older adults' perspectives on health issues.

Dr. Roberts leads the Roberts Research Group, which conducts interdisciplinary research on the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetics and genomics, as well as mental health education and support for older adults. He is actively involved in several NIH-funded projects, including serving as Associate Director of the National Poll on Healthy Aging, co-directing an R01 project on workplace genetic testing, and leading the Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Core of the Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. His areas of expertise include Aging, Genetics, Health Communication, Mental Health, and Precision Health.