[1] Montenegro has been a member of academic staff in Biology and Natural Sciences at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile since 1964.

[1] She has undertaken pioneering work in botany and conservation of native flora, especially plants that are attractive to bees.

She has developed criteria to authenticate honey from different plants and regions of Chile in collaboration with bee keepers and farmers.

From 1965 – 1969 she spent time at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods-Hole USA and developed skills in histological techniques.

During 1970 – 1974 she devoted time to developing the plant ultrastructure and molecular biology skills of her research, including spending time herself at University of Houston, Texas[6] She was awarded the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award for the Latin America and Caribbean regions in 1998 for her efforts to apply modern science to the protection of plant ecosystem.