Delphine Parrott: pioneering the path as the University’s first woman professor
Delphine Parrott’s appointment as the University of Glasgow’s first woman professor marked a defining moment in our history. Her path to this milestone was shaped by decades of scientific curiosity, determination and a belief that rigorous research and human kindness could flourish together.
Born in London, she graduated in 1949 with an honours BSc in Physiology from Bedford College and completed her PhD at King’s College Hospital Medical School in 1952. Her early career took her to research posts in Edinburgh and London where she examined immune rejection in transplants, the movement of lymphocytes in inflammation and the immunology of leukaemia.
Delphine joined the University in 1967 as a senior lecturer in Bacteriology and Immunology. She was admired for her imagination as a scientist and for the supportive environment she created for students and colleagues. In 1973 she became the University’s first female professor through a personal appointment. In the late 1970s she worked with Professor Robert White to establish Scotland’s first BSc in Immunology which helped define the discipline at Glasgow. When Professor White retired in 1980 she became Head of Department and was appointed to the Gardiner Chair of Bacteriology later known as the Gardiner Chair of Immunology.
Today we share Delphine Parrott’s story as our first woman professor showcasing how women in leadership roles help shape a University committed to being the best for the world.
