From Melbourne, Padman was a graduate in electrical engineering from Monash University, Australia, and specialised in radio astronomy.
[3][4] She received opposition from some people, who argued, unsuccessfully, that Padman should not be made a Fellow as she was assigned male at birth.
Among the first things she did on arrival in Cambridge was to approach John Randall at Charing Cross Hospital in London, who prescribed oestrogen.
[9] At the Cavendish Laboratory, she was appointed Deputy Project Scientist for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii in 1984.
Feminist Germaine Greer, who was a member of the college's governing body, strongly opposed the appointment, saying that Padman was a man and male.
[3][4] Clare Longrigg published an article titled "A Sister with No Fellow Feeling" in the 25 June 1997 issue of The Guardian making charges on Padman and containing remarks attributed to Greer.