Rosalind Franklin

Rosalind Franklin was born to Ellis Arthur Franklin and Muriel Frances Waley in Notting Hill, London. Her father was a prominent figure in the Jewish community and a lecturer in German and French.

Rosalind Franklin begins her education at St. Paul's Girls' School, a prestigious private school in London, where she excels in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

Rosalind Franklin graduates from St. Paul's Girls' School with exceptional academic achievements, particularly in science, setting the stage for her future academic and scientific pursuits.

Franklin wins a scholarship to study at Newnham College, Cambridge, where she focuses on chemistry and physics, laying the foundation for her future research in X-ray crystallography.

Rosalind Franklin completes her PhD in physical chemistry, focusing on the structure of coal and graphite. Her work contributes significantly to the understanding of these materials.

Franklin moves to Paris to work at the Laboratoire Central des Services Chimiques de l'État, where she learns X-ray crystallography techniques from Jacques Méring, a leading expert in the field.

Rosalind Franklin joins King's College London as a research associate, where she begins her groundbreaking work on the structure of DNA using X-ray crystallography.

Franklin captures Photo 51, a high-resolution X-ray diffraction image of DNA, which provides crucial evidence for the double helix structure of DNA.

Due to conflicts and lack of recognition, Franklin leaves King's College and joins Birkbeck College, where she continues her research on the structure of viruses.

Rosalind Franklin is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which significantly impacts her health and research activities. She continues to work despite her illness.

Rosalind Franklin dies at the age of 37 in London, leaving behind a legacy of significant contributions to the field of X-ray crystallography and the understanding of DNA structure.