Karen Kibler was raised in a small farming community in Iowa and what many people don’t know about her is that she can weld and operate heavy equipment. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1977, and soon after relocated to Arizona and worked several jobs in the business sector from receptionist to business owner. At age 40, she began working on a PhD which she minted in 1997 from Arizona State University where she now serves as an Assistant Research Professor and the university Biosafety Manager. The focus of her current research is HIV vaccines and treatments.
A Turning Point at Age 40
When Karen turned 40 she found herself in an accounting job with a very low ceiling and no room for advancement due to her lack of a business degree. Her undergraduate degree was in science, so she decided to pursue work in that field. After applying for a few positions, she got incredulous responses because it had been 15 years since she graduated, with no science-related work since then. Since science had always been a passion, she decided to apply for the graduate program in Microbiology at Arizona State University. Much to her surprise, she was accepted and left her accounting job in January of 1993 to start grad school – one month before her 41st birthday.
Karen was a non-traditional student starting a PhD in her forties but her maturity, passion, and discipline served her well. She developed a strong interest in working on HIV and set her sights for a post-doc position at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland and landed a very competitive position in one of the NIH research labs.
The Rewards of an Authentic Career Fit
After two post-doc positions, Karen took a faculty position at her alma mater, ASU, where she taught classes in addition to her lab projects working on an HIV vaccine and novel HIV treatments. As a Research Scientist, she works on the cutting edge of new treatments for HIV and admits that it takes a lot of patience and perseverance to make advances in research that will solve health problems.
A research project can take years to yield any results, so Karen acknowledged that her current work values are different than those of being an accountant – not better, just different. As a biosafety professional charged with helping researchers maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, she has been part of a team that helps prevent lab accidents, and finds that very rewarding.
Channel Your Energy
Pursuing a PhD in her forties was challenging for many reasons. Re-acclimating to the academic regimen was tricky enough for an older student, but mustering the energy to deal with the round-the-clock schedule was indeed a trial. Karen now counsels young people who want to pursue graduate degrees to do so as soon as they finish an undergraduate program so they can capitalize on the momentum.
For Karen, in the life sciences, earning a PhD involved about 20 hours of teaching per week, 10-15 hours in class and then all the rest of her time to study and pursue research. Financially, graduate school was challenging, too. With the intense research, teaching and study requirements there was no way to have an outside job and the academic stipends were not enough to make a living wage. Karen graduated with significant educational debts but she saw the degree as an investment in her career future.
The career landscape in the life sciences has changed dramatically in recent years. With fewer tenure-track university faculty positions, many PhDs leave academia for the private sector biotech/pharmaceutical companies or government positions. Others pursue law or MD programs but career scientists have to think broadly about how they want to apply their skills after they earn a PhD.
Change is Constant
One thing that Karen has learned in her lifetime is that you can always depend on things to change. When making the decision to reinvent herself and transition careers, Karen was determined and focused which helped her remain confident in her decision. She also did her homework and went into the PhD program with her eyes open. While she didn’t know exactly what jobs she would pursue after the degree, she knew the additional credentialing would empower her to break through the proverbial glass ceiling.
Karen has also experienced dramatic change on a personal level many times in her life. After an emotionally devastating divorce, she experienced clinical depression. Years later, Karen found the book: The Cracker Factory, a wonderful resource to better comprehend the healing and self-understanding required of those who suffer from depression. Five years after reading the book, her second husband was killed in an accident and Karen fell into another round of depression which inspired the book she wrote, The Second Chasm (Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing), which was published in January of 2009.
A Journey of Hope
Karen’s book is unique because it bridges two of the most common losses faced in the world: divorce and widowhood. Her stories of recovery offer a message of hope as she describes the journey from despair to healing. Not only did the book prove to be an emotional catharsis for Karen, it launched her freelance proofreading career as well. One would expect detail orientation from a scientist and Karen fits the bill working as a proofreader/editor consultant with Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing.
It’s clear that Karen has found a place of peace in her life and is pursuing a career with many facets that she enjoys. She encourages others considering a transition to do their due diligence and reflect upon what is meaningful for them. This research scientist hopes to bring a resolution to the work she has been doing on an HIV vaccine. She also plans to continue pursuing her work as an author and editor. There are several books floating around in her head which Karen aims to write down some day. Indeed, it took courage to pursue a PhD in her forties and Karen Kibler is now thriving!
Mantra:
Remember that love and friendship are gifts we give, with no requirement that they be earned.
Advice and Action Steps:
- Do your homework and research new career options to find your best match.
- Don’t be afraid to go back to school as an adult – it can be exhilarating.
- Embrace change.
- Don’t give in to negativity – focus on the positive. Don’t waste energy on self- doubt. You must believe in yourself.
- Pay attention to the special moments.
Resources:
The Second Chasm Book www.thesecondchasm.com
Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing http://www.wymacpublishing.com/
Great information! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!