Peter Rådström, born in 1959, was appointed professor of Applied Microbiology 2000, and is since 2021 professor emeritus. He obtained his PhD in Pharmaceutical (PhD) Sciences (Microbiology) in 1991 at the University of Uppsala. These studies addressed the discovery and characterization of integrons, mobile genetic elements with the ability to capture antibiotic resistance genes by site-specific recombination, as well as other genetic mechanisms involved in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. Thereafter, he has initiated and established four different research programs at Applied Microbiology addressing: 1. carbohydrate metabolism in lactic acid bacteria (Functional foods); 2. pre-PCR processing (Diagnostic PCR and Forensic DNA analysis); 3. neurotoxin formation in Clostridium botulinum and Staphylococcus aureus (Food safety); and, 4. microbial biofilms in drinking water (Water quality). The food microbiology research is focused on rapid detection methods, biofilms, and virulence-determinant expression by food-borne pathogens in food matrices, as a step towards formulating new strategies for food safety and risk assessment.