Renate completed her PhD at UiO. She is passionate about the field of plant genetics, with a particular focus on studying the intricate gene regulation processes within the triploid tissue found in flowering plant seeds, known as the endosperm. Her research delved into how the development of this unique tissue influences hybridization events among closely related species.
By harnessing the power of both bioinformatic and molecular tools, her aim was to gain a deeper understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms that underlie this hybridization barrier. She not only investigated this phenomenon within the well-studied genus including Arabidopsis thaliana, but also extended this research to explore less known genera, such as Draba.