DR Sonja Pawelczyk
Institute Administrator
Botnar Research Centre, NDORMS
Tell us a bit about your role
In my role as Botnar Research Centre Administrator I am providing administrative support to the Botnar researchers and ensure the smooth running of the building. I am managing the administrative team and the facilities team in the Botnar Research Centre, both providing a range of support to the Director, research staff and students in the Institute. I am liaising closely with the other finance, personnel, technical services and administrative staff in NDORMS.
I started this role in May 2016 after working as Research Contracts Specialist in Research Services for the University for over 3 years.
After completing a PhD in microbiology at the Technical University of Braunschweig (Germany) I spent 5 years as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biochemistry here at Oxford University.
The combination of both my science and administration background really helps me to understand the needs of our researchers and to bridge the links to the administrative requirements for the best possible outcome for both sides.
What is the most meaningful aspect of your work?
Helping young researchers to launch their careers and to see them moving on from being a junior PhD student to running their own research group.
Can you tell us about something you've done, contributed to that you're most proud of?
I am very proud of being part with the project management for the new clean room facility of our new Botnar 3 wing opening in Summer 2021. This facility will enable researchers to develop and manufacture biomedical devices for human applications including 3D printing with living cells.
What changes would you most like to see in the Medical Sciences in the next 100 years?
I would love to see a world were medical research succeeded in the fight against cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and multiresistant bacterial strains and every human in the world has full access to any medication and health care available.