She studied the porosity of coal using helium to determine its density. Through this, she discovered the relationship between the fine constrictions in the pores of coals and the permeability of the porous space. By concluding that substances were expelled in order of molecular size as temperature increased, she helped classify coals and accurately predict their performance for fuel purposes and for production of wartime devices such as gas masks. This work was the basis of her Ph.D. thesis "The physical chemistry of solid organic colloids with special reference to coal" for which the University of Cambridge awarded her a Ph.D. in 1945. It was also the basis of several papers.