Noreen and Kenneth Murray Library, Thomas Bayes Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FG

Noreen Murray, or Lady Murray (1935 – 2011) was a molecular geneticist who pioneered genetic engineering. She held a personal chair in molecular genetics at the University of Edinburgh and was president of the Genetical Society and vice president of the Royal Society. Murray published many notable papers during her lifetime, most of which were single-author publications. She worked with her husband, Sir Kenneth Murray, to develop a vaccine against hepatitis B, which became the first genetically engineered vaccine approved for human use. Murray was noted for being attentive to the careers of women around her and became a mentor to them, encouraging other women in STEM to excel. She was awarded a CBE, among various other accolades, and the Noreen and Kenneth Murray Library in King’s Buildings was named in her honour. There is a memorial tree across from the library entrance in the grassy area. Also on the King’s Buildings campus, the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh, a charity founded by Noreen and her husband, Kenneth.

Sources:

• “Noreen Murray.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Accessed 8 Sept 2023.
• “Noreen Murray.” Celebrating Diversity: Inspiring Women in History, The University of Edinburgh, Accessed 18 Sept. 2023
• “Obituary: Professor Noreen Murray CBE FRS FRSE, Geneticist.” The Scotsman, 25 May 2011.

Additional links:

• Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society: Noreen Elizabeth Murray, CBE
• Courage, luck and genius: How scientific couple paved the way for Covid vaccine, Sunday Post
• The Darwin Trust of Edinburgh