 She would later complete her PhD at Yale Divinity School, studying under George Lindbeck and Kathryn Tanner, on the theology of the Catholic theologian Karl Rahner.Kilby has taught at the University of St Andrews, the University of Birmingham, and, from 2001 to 2013, at the University of Nottingham.In January 2014, began her appointment as Bede Professor of Catholic Theology at Durham University.