There is more to Dr Renae Domaschenz than meets the eye. Renae is a research fellow exploring cancer epigenetics in the Department of Genome Sciences. She studies DNA epigenetic modifications in cancer cells, to understand how alterations in chromatin structure impact cancer initiation or progression. But not only: Renae is an elite athlete, representing  Australia in the 2018 World Rowing Championships as the coxswain of a mixed coxed four team. She is also a high-performance rowing coach for Rowing ACT and the ACT Academy of Sport.

Renae’s love of coxing started during her PhD in the UK. It was first a way of meeting people and make new friends. But as a former dancer, long distance runner and hockey player, she says it wasn’t unexpected she would get hooked on rowing... She kept rowing when she came back from Europe and that brought her to represent Australia in the World Championships. Not too bad at all for what was at the beginning just a hobby!

Renae is currently in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where the Championships are in full swing. Renae and her team will take part in the final tomorrow Saturday 15 September, 6.15 pm AEST. You can follow live here. The entire School will no doubt be watching and cheering for Renae while her team gives their best performance!