Advent calendar - December 23rd - Anja Onstwedder

In the Zernike Institute Advent Calendar, we are presenting 24 short spotlights in December. In these specials, we highlight PhD students, postdocs, support staff, and technicians of our research groups and team - providing a glimpse in their typical day at work. In Episode 23 meet Anja Onstwedder, management assistant to the Molecular Biophysics, solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and Bio-inspired Circuits & Systems groups.

My name is Anja Onstwedder and I am working as management/office assistant. Within the group of Molecular Biophysics (MBP), I work for Wouter Roos, Rifka Vlijm and Pieter van der Zaag. I also work for the group of Patrick van der Wel, solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ssNMR), and for the group of Elisabetta Chicca, Bio-inspired Circuits & Systems (BICS). These are nice groups to work for. My working days are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

I started working for the University of Groningen in February 2020 and since then I learned a lot of the ins and outs of the University. And there is always more to learn!

My job is very various and dynamic. I assist the PI’s of the groups with for instance scheduling meetings, administrative support, helping organize events, arranging travel, doing general tasks for the group and a lot of other tasks that pop up.

I often act as a focal point for the group members. They can come to me with all kinds of questions and I always do my best to help or refer them. Every day it’s a surprise what’s coming, so my work is never boring.

Most of the work comes in via email and that works very well, it’s clear and never stops, but I also like that people drop by my office and have the personal contact. I like the interaction with all the group members very much. The groups are international and that makes it also interesting.

Working for different groups does require a lot of flexibility and you should be able to switch from working from one group to another.

Finally, this is a nice opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Contact: Anja Onstwedder-Reiling