Working at SERI: Zoé Kopitopoulos

What do you do exactly?

I work as a university intern in three different units of the International Organisations and Programmes Division. I help with the organisational aspects of international meetings, such as the Multilateral Dialogue on Quantum, scheduled to take place in Bern in March 2026, as well as the meeting of the CERN Host States Coordination Committee. I am involved in conducting impact assessments, where we gather feedback from Swiss researchers who have taken part in EU programmes. I also help to monitor participation in mobility programmes and Switzerland's activities in international scientific organisations. In short, my internship is cross-disciplinary and quite varied.

What do you like about your work in particular?

What I particularly like about my job is the wide variety of tasks and topics I deal with on a daily basis. I also really appreciate being able to see how the Federal Administration works from the inside, as the work is so closely linked with policymaking. I'm also fortunate to be able to go on work trips, such as to Brussels, the heart of the European Union. This has been very rewarding. I'm particularly interested in training, research and innovation, and the great atmosphere within the various teams makes the work all the more enjoyable.

What challenges do you expect in the near future?

The political context is quite unpredictable at the moment, which often affects planning. This can sometimes be challenging, but it's also what makes the work interesting. For now, I'm still learning the ropes and look forward to gaining confidence and more experience. Last but not least, improving my German is also one of my goals.