Emeritus Professor Julian Rood obtained his PhD in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Melbourne in 1975. After taking up postdoctoral positions at the University of Wisconsin and the Australian National University he took up his first academic position at Murdoch University in Perth. He moved back to Melbourne in 1985 to take up a position in the Department of Microbiology at Monash University, where he is currently an Emeritus Professor. His research has focused on the genetics and pathogenesis of anaerobic bacteria. He has used molecular genetics to determine the role of bacterial toxins in the pathogenesis of diseases of both humans and animals and to study the mechanisms by which the production of these toxins is regulated. His work in plasmid biology has focussed on mobile genetic elements of Clostridium perfringens; in particular, the mechanism of transfer of conjugative toxin and antibiotic resistance plasmids. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and a Fellow and Life Member of the Australian Society for Microbiology. He served as President of the Australian Society for Microbiology from 2004 to 2006 and still serves on its National Council as the Chair of its National Education and Qualifications Board.