In 1998, Dr. Hinanit Koltai graduated the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Ph.D. degree in Plant Protection program). During her Ph.D. she investigated the collagen genes and proteins involved in root knot nematode growth and development. Following graduation, the BARD-Vaadia Postdoctoral Fellowship program granted Dr. Koltai support for a 2-year postdoctoral training at the Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University. During her fellowship, she gained a vast insight into plant biology and plant pathology.

Since 2001, Dr. Koltai has been a Research Scientist at the Department Genomics, and then Ornamental Horticulture at the Plant Science Institute in ARO, Volcani Center. In 2014, Dr. Koltai was promoted to A+ grade. The research group headed by Dr. Koltai elucidated, for the first time, a role for strigolactones, plant hormones, in root development. Her publication on this finding was a Highly Cited Paper as of September/October 2015 according to WEB OF SCIENCE.

Her current research is focused on plant derived substances as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory drugs, plant hormones and plant genomics. Research in Medical Cannabis became one of her leading research subjects.

She is the Editor of two books and of The International Parasitic Plant Society, a member of Editorial boards in international scientific journals, Leader in a European COST action and an Editor of special issue of scientific journals. She is a leading Author of more than 70 peer reviewed publication and 30 book chapters and invited reviews.

Dr. Koltai is a lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, Israel, teaching a course on Medical Cannabis and the head of the Volcani-Bar-Ilan school of Environmental and Ecological Studies.