We work among extraordinary people doing extraordinary things; get to know some of them by reading these quick-fire interviews.
Name: Martha Buckley
Job title: Project Portfolio Manager
What are you currently working on?
I manage a portfolio of grants across the Department of Physics. These are mostly European Commission, alongside some UKRI funding and a Strategic Research Fund award – the new Oxford Quantum Institute.
Describe a typical day
I start work at around 8am to avoid the traffic, so the first thing I do when I get in is put the kettle on and have some breakfast while checking any new emails. After that it can be anything that is needed to keep the projects I support running smooothly, from accounts and event planning to recruitment and reporting – and of course answering queries from ‘my’ PIs!
If you had an entire day at your disposal (not at work), what would be your ideal way to spend it?
I would start off by having a lie-in with a good book (preferably speculative fiction), and then there would definitely be some crafts or music involved – I have always got a project on the go! At the moment it is either patchwork quilting or calligraphy for the wedding of two good friends. Then I would probably squeeze in some baking, so that I could spend the evening catching up on television with a slice of cake (or two!)
What is your favourite place in Oxford?
That is really hard – I have been in Oxford for ten years now and almost everywhere has a special memory. If you twisted my arm I would probably say any pub that has a folk session and good friends. I am teetotal, but I love to play!
What discovery would you like to see in your lifetime?
An exoplanet that I could somehow get named after my 5 year-old godson. That would get me some serious brownie points!