Dr. O'Sullivan is a group head for the Translational Kidney Therapies Group within the Centre for Inflammatory Diseases (CID) based at the Monash Health Translational Precinct. Kim completed her undergraduate studies and Master’s Degree in Anatomy and Structural Biology at the University of Otago, New Zealand. In 2002 Kim joined the Autoimmune Kidney Disease and Vasculitis Research Group and completed a staff PhD in Immunology under the supervision of Prof. Stephen Holdsworth and Prof. Richard Kitching-world leaders in the study of glomerulonephritis and immune mediated kidney diseases. Since completion of a PhD Kim has obtained competitive funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC Ideas Grant as CIA) and Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF, as a CI). Dr O’Sullivan has an international and national reputation in ANCA vasculitis studies evidenced by multiple invitations to speak internationally and nationally at conferences. Kim's main research area is investigating the pro-inflammatory role of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) in MPO-ANCA vasculitis with a particular focus on looking for potential therapeutics which will prevent NET formation and ameliorate disease-without compromising host defence.

Student supervision: Dr. O'Sullivan is currently supervising 1 PhD student at Monash University, and two Honours students. Kim is a teaching associate for the Immunology department for Units: IMM3031, IMM3042, and 1^st year medical students MED1200. Kim is taking enquiries for Honours and PhD Projects for 2022/2023 on the role of neutrophil extracellular traps in perpetuating inflammation in vasculitis.

Collaborations: Kim has active collaborations with scientists considered to be leaders in their respective fields internationally she is actively collaborating with Dr Daniel Appelgren, Prof Marten Segelmark (Linkoping University, Sweden) on the role of mtDNA in vasculitis and locally with Dr Grant Logan (University of Sydney Australia) on the role of adeno associated viral vectors of DNase I to treat experimental vasculitis and Dr. Paul King (Monash University, Australia) on the role of macrophage extracellular traps in Lung disease. Previous collaborations have already resulted in publications for her work on Macrophage extracellular Traps (METS) (Sci Rep, J.Vix.Exp, and PLoS one) and mast cells (PLoS One) and in other diseases (COPD and anti GBM glomerulonephritis) respectively. 

Service to the scientific community: In 2020/2021 Kim served as the chair of the ImmuMON committee responsible for organising a symposia to highlight the research from ECR and Mid-Career researchers across departments/schools with an Immunology theme at Monash. Nationally Kim is on the Australian Society for Immunology Day of Immunology Committee, an event to communicate immunological concepts to the general public. Locally, Kim is the convenor of the Centre for Inflammatory Diseases weekly seminar series, which involves inviting guest speakers and local researchers to present their research.

Kim is a passionate supporter of women in STEM, she is a brainstem mentor for year 9 high school students and a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Kim serves as a Review Editor for Frontiers Immunology and serves an editorial board member for the International Journal of Molecular Sciences and the Journal of Integrated Medicine in Nephrology and Andrology.

Kim is a member of the Australian Society of Immunology, the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology, the Society of Leukocyte Biology, and the American Society of Nephrology. Her expertise in pathology and immunology is evident in her invited participation in peer review for the Journals: Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI), Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight, (JCI Insight) Frontiers Immunology, Nephrology, Xenotransplantation, Pathology, Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Kidney International, and the Journal of Immunology and Cell Biology.