Meet Early Career Microbiologist of the Year talk finalist: Emily Radford
Posted on September 15, 2025 by Microbiology Society
This year, the Microbiology Society is awarding Early Career Microbiologist of the Year prizes from two streams. Both prizes recognise excellence in science communication by a member who is an undergraduate, postgraduate student or within five years of appointment to their first position.
Each of the finalists, who either presented a poster or offered a talk at Annual Conference 2025, was selected to present their research in the poster or talk final. In the lead-up to the talk final, taking place on 7 October 2025 during the Executive Committee meeting, we speak to talk finalist Emily Radford, from Aberystwyth University, UK.
What are your current research interests?
My current research interests involve investigating how we could potentially use predatory myxobacteria (members of the phylum Myxococcota) as biocontrol agents to help treat and/or prevent fungal diseases in wheat crops. These diseases cause devasting losses both in terms of yield and economic loss, and with current treatment options relying on chemical fungicides, more sustainable options are required to improve food security and protect our food system.
How would you explain your research to a GCSE student?
Wheat crops are grown all around the world and are really important for providing nutrition for our growing world population, but can often get infected with diseases. Traditionally, chemicals would be used to treat these diseases but this is unsustainable. Myxobacteria are bacteria that live in the soil and eat other bacteria and fungi. These myxobacteria could be used as a biocontrol agent (a living biological organism used to control a disease) to treat wheat diseases by eating the infectious fungi instead of using chemicals – helping to make the food system more sustainable.
How did you feel finding out you are an Early Career Microbiologist of the Year finalist?
It was a huge honour to find out I had been selected as a finalist! It was totally unexpected for me, but amazing to think that out of all the fantastic candidates I was one of the few chosen to go through to the final. It is rewarding to know that the work I presented at the Annual Conference 2025 was recognised by the judges as being worthy to be taken forward to the next stage of the competition, and I am looking forward to the chance to share my presentation with the judging panel at the finals.
What do you love most about your job?
There are many things that I love about my job, but the highlights include the sense of purpose and achievement from knowing that my research has potential real-world value for a more sustainable future. I also love how rewarding it is to have the opportunity to communicate this research with the public and the next generation of scientists through teaching and public engagement events to inspire curiosity in the microbial world around us.
Why does microbiology matter?
Microbiology is immensely important as it underpins everything in the natural environment around us, and understanding these microbes and their interactions on a microscale help us to understand the bigger picture. Developments in human and animal health, sustainable food production and biotechnology have only been possible due to microbiology research so it is vital that this research is continued to support future innovations for a healthy and sustainable future.