Professor Evelyn Telfer CBE, an internationally renowned scientist whose research into female reproductive biology has had a worldwide impact, has received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland (UWS).
The honour was conferred during a ceremony at Paisley Abbey on Thursday, November 12, recognising her contribution to reproductive biology, her research and her connection with the University, where she graduated from Paisley College of Technology in 1982.
From Kilmarnock to Edinburgh
Professor Telfer was born in Kilmarnock and lives in Hulford. She attended high school in Kilmarnock before studying at Paisley College of Technology, graduating in 1982 with a First Class BSc Honours degree in Biology. During her studies, she received the Top Biology Prize and was named the most distinguished student in the School of Science.
She completed a PhD in ovarian development at the University of Edinburgh in 1987 and, after working in the USA, returned in 1992 as a lecturer. She is now Professor of Reproductive Biology at the University of Edinburgh, where she leads a research group in Ovarian Development.
Pioneering Fertility Research
Professor Telfer has pioneered research into growing human eggs outside the body, with the potential to transform fertility preservation options for girls and women undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments that can damage the ovaries. Her work has attracted worldwide media attention and recognition from the scientific community.
Her accolades include the Society for Reproduction and Fertility's Anne McLaren Distinguished Scientist Award (2018), being named one of Porter Magazine's Incredible Women of the Year (2018), and inclusion in the BBC's list of five research developments that could change our lives (2018). She was appointed a CBE in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to Female Reproductive Biology, received the Society's Marshall Medal in 2022 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2025.
Recognition and Gratitude
Professor Telfer said: "I am honoured to receive this recognition from UWS. My journey began in Ayrshire, and my time at Paisley College of Technology was hugely influential in shaping both my academic interests and the career that followed."
She added: "I was fortunate to be inspired and encouraged by the late Professor John Smyth, Head of Biology, alongside the staff and fellow students who helped nurture my passion for biological sciences. I look back on my time at Paisley with enormous gratitude and take great pride in the contribution the University continues to make to education, opportunity and society."
Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland, said: "Professor Telfer's achievements strongly reflect UWS's commitment to equality, improving lives and advancing knowledge in areas that make a meaningful difference to society. Her pioneering contribution to female reproductive health, in particular, highlights the importance of research that addresses women's health needs and helps create better opportunities and outcomes for future generations. Her work has the potential to transform lives around the world, and this Honorary Doctorate is a fitting recognition of her achievements and her connection to the University."
