Karin Klijn trained in Neurology at the University Medical Center Utrecht. In 2013, after finishing her training, she worked as stroke fellow at the stroke unit of Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia (prof Graeme J Hankey , MD, FRCP, FRCP (Edin), FRACP).

From 2004 to 2015 she worked as neurologist at the UMC Utrecht. In June 2015 she was appointed as chair and professor of Neurology at the Radboud University Medical Center.