Kim Blankendaal obtained her bachelor's degree in Medical Natural Sciences and her master's degree in Drug Discovery & Safety at the VU University Amsterdam. In addition, she is also qualified as a first-degree teacher for the highest classes of secondary education for both physics and chemistry.

Her research is focused on the transition from high school to university, where both students and universities perceive a lack of digital skills in the field of research. She aims to investigate this gap and give directions to bridge it by supporting the development of these skills in high school.