[1] She was educated by governesses until being awarded a scholarship to attend Manchester Municipal Secondary School at the age of thirteen.

In 1932 she also became an honorary lecturer in the department of engineering, mechanical and motive power at Imperial College London where she remained until she retired in 1957.

[1] From 1916 to 1922 she was the head of Manchester Corporation's Air Pollution Advisory Board's research team.

In 1932 when Lander accepted the chair of mechanical engineering at Imperial College, London University, both White and Saunders moved with him.

In 1947 White became the only woman to reach the status of assistant professor and reader in applied heat at Imperial College.