Science Heroes Home Page > J. P. (Perky) Kilbourn

Joan Priscilla Payne ("Perky") Kilbourn - Microbiologist

OMSI: Where did you grow up?

PK: Oregon- Portland, McMinnville and Salem

OMSI: As a child, did you have any hobbies, interests, or experiences that helped prepare you for success in science?

PK: Curiosity.

OMSI: Please tell us about a mentor or teacher who helped to inspire your interest in science.

PK: My High School Biology Teacher encouraged me in science and was a role model.

OMSI: What is your dream? What do you most hope to accomplish in your career?

PK: To launch a medical device for women to diagnose vaginal yeast infections.

OMSI: How do you feel about the current state of science education in the U.S.?

PK: The teacher with whom I now work is doing an excellent job.

OMSI: What do you like to do in your free time?

PK: I like to read.

OMSI: As a student, did you participate in a science fair? If so, please tell us about your project, and your experience participating in the fair.

PK: I am too old - Science Fairs had not started yet.

OMSI: Did you have to overcome any obstacles on your path to becoming a professional scientist?

PK: Financing of continuing education was tricky but not difficult - ended up with two fellowships/assistantships to cover all expenses.

OMSI: Who were the people you looked up to as heroes in your field?

PK: Evelyn Oginsky.

OMSI: Do you have any advice for students who are interested in pursuing a career in science?

PK: Be sure you want to do it and then go for it.

OMSI: When did you realize that you wanted to be a Microbiologist?

PK: When I had my first course in Microbiology.

OMSI: Please tell us about your educational background.

PK: B.S. General Science, M.S. Microbiology major and Biochemistry minor; Ph.D. Microbiology major, Biochemistry and Mathematics Minors.

OMSI: Please tell us about your professional background.

PK: Laboratory Director of my own laboratory Consulting Clinical and Microbiological Laboratory Inc. for about 18 years, Microbiologist at ICN Medical Laboratory before that and Veterans Administration Hospital in Portland before that. When first got Ph.D. did a "post doc" at Oregon State University in the Department of Mathematics. Using a computer to write a program to identify microorganisms on basis of the biochemical activity.

When had my Microbiology Laboratory one of my contracts was with School of Nursing at OHSU. Bath time is often extremely distressing to nursing home residents and nurses would like to know if they can give towel baths rather than showers. My project was to culture skin samples from patients and determine the bacterial and yeast flora before and after either a towel bath or shower. Have developed and am in process of getting a diagnostic kit for vaginal yeast infections ready to market. Women can purchase the antimicrobial creams for vaginal yeast infections without a doctor's prescription, but how do they know they have a yeast infection? The diagnostic kit will allow a woman to take a vaginal specimen and send it to a laboratory for identification of any yeast which may be present.

I have coordinated two books for women: "The Book for Working Women -= is there any Other Kind?" and "A How to Book - Making Success Your Reality." The profits from the sale of these books have been used to fund scholarships for women who are studying chemistry in a college or university.

OMSI: Please tell us about a project you're working on now.

PK: Marketing of a vaginal yeast culture kit.

OMSI: Does the research / work you do effect people's everyday lives?

PK: Yes, because women have vaginal yeast infections and their discomfort effects their everyday lives.

OMSI: What do you like most about your work?

PK: The excitement of accomplishment.

OMSI: Is there a scientific issue or topic outside of your immediate field that you are particularly interested in?

PK: Space travel and whether there is life on other planets.