She conducts research in the area of plant biotechnology, with particular interests in crop improvement. Current research projects include modifying soybeans for improved phosphorus and nutrient availability. Another area of research in Dr. Grabau's laboratory includes using biotechnology approaches to enhance disease resistance in peanuts. Dr. Grabau teaches lecture and laboratory courses in molecular biology and biotechnology at the undergraduate and graduate level. Prior to joining the faculty at Virginia Tech, Dr. Grabau was a research associate at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics. She conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Utah, received her Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of California in San Diego, and graduated with an undergraduate degree in biology at Purdue University.