From 1988 until her death, she was Honorary University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Virginia Tech.

[2] Grene studied with Martin Heidegger and Karl Jaspers, leaving Germany in 1933.

After losing her position there during World War II, she spent 15 years as a mother and farmer.

[3] Her New York Times obituary said Grene was "one of the first philosophers to raise questions about the synthetic theory of evolution, which combines Darwin's theory of evolution, Mendel's understanding of genetic inheritance and more recent discoveries by molecular biologists".

[4] In 1995, the International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology established a prize for young scholars in Grene's name, writing: "Not only does her work in the history and philosophy of biology exemplify the strong spirit of interdisciplinary work fundamental to the ISHPSSB, but she played a central role in bringing together diverse scholars of biology even before the formation of the Society.