Episode 162: Young Scientist Spotlight 18: Emma Harding

Fossils of ancient viruses are living inside us, and they may reveal important clues about how we became who we are today. In this Young Scientist Spotlight, PhD candidate Emma Harding tells us about her research studying viral fossils in marsupials, and why she suspects these chunks of ancient DNA are sticking around for a reason. She also talks about what it’s like working in a brand-new field, and why Australia is an awesome place to study weird genomes. We can’t wait for you to meet this rising microbiology star!  This episode was produced by Celia Ford. Music used in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions on Free Music Archive. To learn more about Emma’s work, follow her on Twitter @emma__harding and check out her website, https://emmavirologist.wixsite.com/my-site.