The ETH nomad
For 25 years, Marianna Berger held various administrative positions at ETH Zurich, most recently in the Department of Computer Science. Before her retirement at the end of June, she looks back on her varied career at the university.
When Marianna Berger retires at the end of June 2020, she will take many memories with her. She worked at ETH Zurich for 25 years, in a variety of administrative positions in departments, sections and research groups. What began with a part-time position in Corporate Communications ends with a full-time job as administrative assistant for four professors at the Department of Computer Science. “I am an ETH nomad,” jokes Berger.
Her journey at ETH Zurich began in 1995. Berger was working as an independent acupressure therapist when she was asked by ETH Zurich to take over the editing of the university’s event calendar. Berger accepted the position as a counterbalance to her therapeutic work.
Until 2001, Berger remained with Corporate Communications, where she also managed events and helped create the “Who is who”. In 2004, Berger moved to the GESS department as administrative assistant to the Psychology and Behavioural Immunology professorship. “I was approached by HR for many of my postings, including this one,” she says.
From psychology to computer science
The professorship was terminated in 2007. Berger stayed on as an administrative assistant, but moved to the group of Professor Peter Widmayer, who was working in theoretical computer science. “That was an incredible shift in subject matter,” she laughs, “but at least I didn’t have far to move; both professorships were based in CAB.”
In addition to Peter Widmayer’s group, she has been an administrative assistant to numerous other professorships over the years. “Administrative assistance at ETH is a very varied and interesting job,” says Berger. “Certain basic activities are similar for all professorships, for example employee and guest administration, reviewing expense and credit card statements and invoices, and budget control. Everything else is individual – and ranges from the organisation of conferences to the running of the group’s website and the administrative management of SNSF and EU research projects.”
“The solidarity in the department’s administration is very strong,” she says. Mutual support is particularly important for administrative staff. “We are part of a research group, but we are not researchers,” explains Berger. “Sometimes, you feel a bit isolated.”
After 25 years, 13 of them at the Department of Computer Science, the nomad ends her journey through ETH Zurich at the end of June. “Goodbyes are always a little sad,” says Berger. She has greatly appreciated her time at ETH Zurich. “ETH is a very reliable employer. You get good employment conditions and a lot of freedom to shape your own work processes,” she says.
This article is an edited version of an article that first appeared in the Spotlight Stories of the Department of Computer Science. Read the entire portrait written by Anna Ettlin here.