Dr Anderson was a CSIRO bee scientist from 1989 to 2013, specialising in bee pathology. He has conducted extensive research into the Varroa mite and the invasion biology of Asian honey bees, and has described two new species of Tropilaelaps mite. He was awarded the CSIRO medal in 2007 for his work on the Varroa mite. Dr Anderson is the managing director of Bees Downunder, which seeks to promote and support bee research in Australia.