Rodrigues is an Agronomist and received his Ph.D. in 2004 in Plant Pathology from the University of Florida, Gainesville, U.S.A.. Prof. Rodrigues is currently an Associate Professor of Plant Pathology at the Plant Pathology Department at Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil. Prof. Rodrigues is the author or co-author of more than 100 research articles and 10 book chapters, most of which deal with the control of plant diseases using the induced resistance, understanding the infection process of several root and foliar pathogens, how the pathogens affect the host physiology as well as the defense mechanisms activated by the host in response to pathogen infection. Prof. Rodrigues is currently a consulting member of some Scientific Agencies from the Brazilian Government and abroad.