At CDR since 1999, Rani leads the Cheese Research Program Area and conducts research on cheese yield and functionality, membrane and high-pressure processing, and strategies to improve performance shelf life. She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Biochemistry and a PhD in Food Technology from the National University of Singapore, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Fonterra Research Institute. Her honors include the CALS Academic Staff Award for Excellence in Research (2017) and the IDFA Research Award in Dairy Foods Processing (2024). Rani is co‑editor of the fifth edition of Cheese: Chemistry, Physics and Microbiology and coordinates two advanced cheese short courses at CDR. She is an active member of ADSA and served on its Board of Directors from 2022 to 2025.