Student Alumni
Women have studied in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (established in 2006), and its predecessors, the Laboratory of Physiology (established in 1883) and Department of Human Anatomy (established in 1893), hereafter referred to collectively as DPAG, for over 100 years, with Mabel FitzGerald being the first woman to study physiology at undergraduate level (1896-1899). These 22 remarkable women were nominated by former colleagues and supervisors and serve as inspirational role-models for current and future staff and students alike. As their profiles show, they have each achieved great success in their chosen careers across a variety of roles and sectors. Some continued on at DPAG after their studies to work with us and can also be found under Former Staff.
We have verified our information either directly with the women themselves or through formal online sources such as obituaries in order to ensure accuracy as best possible. Unfortunately, as women were often not celebrated during their lifetime, their timelines are, in some instances, an approximation. Any issues or omissions from these profiles can be raised by emailing communications@dpag.ox.ac.uk.
Sulayma Albarwani
DPhil Student, 1991-94
Professor of Physiology, Sultan Qaboos University
Maya Bahoshy
BA Physiological Sciences, 2006-09
Coach & City Experience Manager, Minerva Project
Alice Josephine Barnes
UG Physiology, 1930
Obstetrician and gynaecologist
First woman elected President of the British Medical Association, 1979
Daphne Bascom
DPhil Student, Marshall Scholar, 1988-91
Vice President, Population Health, Saint Luke’s Health System, USA
Shanika Basnayake
DPhil Student, 2008-11
NHS Physician and Trained Chef
Hilary Brown
DPhil Student 1958-61
Graduate Research Worker 1963-96, Departmental Demonstrator 1967-74, University Research Lecturer 1988-96.
Sybil Cooper
Research Student (circa 1927)
Demonstrator in Anatomy 1927-34, Research Fellow, 1946-68
Marianne Fillenz
DPhil Student (1950)
University Lecturer in Physiology (circa 1963, retired 1992), Senior Research Fellow
Mabel FitzGerald
First woman to study UG physiology, 1896-99
Research Scientist and Laboratory Technician (1897-1907), Pioneer in respiration research, Pike’s Peak (1911)
Fiona Gribble
DPhil Student, 1994-97
Postdoctoral Fellow, 1997-99
Farrah Jarral
BA, Physiology, 2000-03
Radio broadcaster, writer, GP
Jasmina Kapetanovic
MA in Physiological Sciences, 1996-99
MRC Clinician Scientist and a vitreo-retinal surgeon
Junko Kimura
DPhil Student, 1978-82
Former Head of Department, Pharmacology, Fukushima Medical University
Kristine Krug
BA Physiological Sciences 1991-94, DPhil in Neuroscience 1994-97
Associate Professor in Neuroscience, 2014-19
Heisenberg-Professor, Chair in Sensory Physiology, Otto-v-Guericke-University Magdeburg; Leibniz-Institute Neurobiology
Louise Marshall
BA, Physiological Sciences, 2007-10
Science Portfolio Manager, Neuroscience & Mental Health at Wellcome Trust
Rosie Mason
BA, Physiological Sciences, 2008-11
Head of Clinical Trial Excellence and Services, Ipsen
Nicole Mather
MA Physiological Sciences 1993-96, MSc in Neuroscience 1996-97, DPhil in Neuroscience 1997 – 2001
Partner at IBM, Non Executive Director of the Health Research Authority, Non Executive Director of the Wellcome Sanger Institute GRL
Susan Noble
Physiology degree (1959), DPhil Student (awarded 1972)
Postdoctoral Fellow (1972-88), University Research Lecturer (1988-99)
Mary Phillips
DPhil Student, 1968-71
Departmental Demonstrator, Research Fellow, Temporary Lectureship
Former Senior Funder, Wellcome Trust, and Director of Research Planning, UCL
Lauren Stewart
BA, Physiological Sciences, 1994-97
Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths
Ann Taylor
First in Physiology (1949)
University Lecturer in Physiology, 1980-95
Janet Vaughan
UG Physiology, 1922
Haematologist, Radiation Pathologist, Principal of Somerville College