Working at SERI: Corine Meyer

What do you do exactly?

A large part of my work is to coordinate and schedule appointments, events and business trips for the team. I also help the Deputy Director and Division Head to manage her agenda and inbox. And finally, I prepare documents for important meetings involving senior management.

I also help the scientific advisors with the annual reporting on research institutions of national importance. In the 2025–2028 funding period, 36 such research institutions will receive a total of over CHF 430 million in support under Article 15 of the Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation (RIPA). These institutions cover all scientific fields – from biology and medicine to engineering, social sciences and the humanities. They greatly contribute to the performance and international reputation of the Swiss research and innovation system.

To this end, I ensure that the relevant documents are submitted in full and on time, thereby enabling the scientific advisors to perform their monitoring activities, thus contributing to the targeted and effective use of funding.

What do you like about your work in particular?

What I really like about my job are the insights I gain from it. Every meeting touches on issues such as climate change, sustainability, health, digital transformation and geopolitical developments, which are all key topics in the Research and Innovation Policy for 2025–2028.

Collaboration across divisions is essential in my view as it enables me to produce good results and achieve our objectives quickly and efficiently. I am fortunate to be part of a supportive and motivating team, which allows me to perform my duties productively. This environment keeps me motivated each day.

I am also a workplace trainer. My commitment to training apprentices at SERI is an investment in the future careers of each and every one of our apprentices. It also gives me a sense of satisfaction to be able to share this intense period with them.

What challenges do you expect in the near future?

It is certainly a challenge to keep up with the pace of digitalisation (e.g. AI tools) at work without losing the skills you have already acquired. Striking a healthy balance between new opportunities and established methods is important to me. 

It keeps me motivated because it lets me bring something positive to my working environment and I always learn something new.