Kristin Knust

Director, Data Management

Why I joined Emmes

I heard about Emmes from a few of my previous colleagues who spoke highly of the company and mission. I was further encouraged during the interview process when I met people from different therapeutic areas, many of whom had been at Emmes for a decade or more, and whose love for their work and colleagues shined through. I thought that Emmes would be a place I could continue learning and growing; that still proves true to this day.

How do you describe Emmes to other people

A full-service CRO dedicated to improving public health and providing high-quality clinical research support. Our knowledgeable employees care deeply about the mission and build trusting, collaborative relationships with our research partners.

A bit about me

I love spending time with my husband and son, exploring new places and taking nature walks in the woods with our family’s cats and goats. I grew up playing the piano and still enjoy creating music as an expressive outlet; watching my son discover music has been an awesome experience!

How I chose my career

I started out pursuing a career in medicine but had the opportunity to get involved in research early on in my undergraduate studies. I didn’t know much then about data management as a profession, but I found myself drawn to the data and systems being used to support the research. I loved seeing the connection between the way data were collected and how that can be used to ultimately help patients and improve outcomes. Now one of my greatest joys is helping others develop their career in data management and finding the right opportunities to showcase their strengths.

Best part about working at Emmes

The people! I’m inspired every day by the passion, dedication, and creativity of my colleagues. It is an honor to support an incredible group of talented data managers across the globe and see them making a difference through their work.

My background

I started out as a research assistant supporting addictions research at Virginia Tech, then worked on a large-scale diabetes clinical trials network through the George Washington University Biostatistics Center. I started at Emmes in 2008 as a Data Manager and had the opportunity to support numerous studies in the transplant (hematology/oncology) therapeutic area, which was a tremendously rewarding and challenging experience. Since 2015, I’ve been able to serve the data management group in progressive leadership roles and have continued developing and supporting the department in this capacity. I’ve found my passion at Emmes and I’m grateful to do what I love.

Education

M.S. in Health Sciences (Clinical Research Administration) George Washington University
B.S. in Psychology (Biology and Chemistry minors), Virginia Tech

Associated projects

Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN)