Krystal Warmoth
Current Employer/Organisation Name
University of Hertfordshire
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
Since completing my PhD in 2015, I have worked in both the United States of America and the United Kingdom. I have contributed to several different projects involving care homes, psychosocial interventions, implementation, rehabilitation, behaviour change, and dementia. I currently work with the Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care (CRIPACC) at the University of Hertfordshire.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I can’t imagine myself doing anything but research as a career. I am passionate about research, especially applied health research with older people. Despite its challenges, it can be very rewarding.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
My time at Exeter sparked an interest in applied research, bolstered my critical thinking and reading skills, and informed my thinking on the role of social perceptions and relationships on behaviour and in health and social care systems.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
My critical thinking and reading skills have been essential to my research career.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Advice that I would give anyone considering a career in research is to learn to deal with rejection and criticism positively. It’s a lot of hard work and it can be very frustrating to not get funded and papers accepted for publication. Coping with these setbacks and learning from them is an essential skill. Likewise, always celebrate your success no matter how small.
What are your plans for the future?
My ultimate goal is to improve how older people and anyone living with multiple, complex conditions are supported by health and social care. I intend to establish an independent line of Older People research by pursuing further funding and mastering the areas essential to a successful research career. I’ll continue to collaborate with other health researchers and practitioners with whom I’m currently or previously worked, as well as build relationships with other leading researchers.
