Simon Birrer
Master's student in Political Science with a focus on International Relations and a minor in Japanese Studies at the University of Zurich.
Education
Master's degree in Political Science
University of Zurich
Major: Political Science, specializing in International Relations. Minor: Japanese Studies.
Bachelor's degree — final semester
University of Zurich
Major: Japanese Studies. Minor: Political Science. Bachelor thesis: "The Impact of the 2007–09 Global Financial Crisis on the Total Fertility Rate in Okinawa and Tokyo" (grade 5.5).
MEXT exchange program (12 months)
Osaka University, Japan
Bachelor's degree studies
University of Zurich
Major: Japanese Studies. Minor: Political Science.
Gymnasiale Matur (upper-secondary diploma for adults)
Kantonale Maturitätsschule für Erwachsene (KME), Zurich
Berufsmaturität (vocational baccalaureate)
Uster & Zurich — focus: technology
Work experience
Escape room host, game master and customer service
Logistics specialist (EFZ federal vocational diploma)
Zurich Cantonal Bank
Apprenticeship as logistics specialist (EFZ)
Zurich Cantonal Bank
Skills
- Programming & data
- Data preparation and analysis with Python and R; NLP for text analysis.
- AI / LLMs
- LLMs for research, prompt engineering, and content analysis.
- Office applications
- Structured reports (Word), data-driven presentations (PowerPoint), Excel visualization with filters and pivot tables.
- Image editing
- Affinity Photo 2 for professional image processing.
Soft skills
- Analytical thinking
- Structured evaluation of complex topics.
- Intercultural competence
- Exchange at Osaka University (Japan): teamwork in multicultural groups of Asian and Western students, working in English and Japanese.
- Project management
- Planning and execution of the capstone project "Enhancing Legislative Transparency".
Languages
- German
- Native / fluent.
- English
- Fluent (written and spoken), CEFR C2 certified.
- Japanese
- JLPT N2 — acquired and consolidated during the exchange year in Japan.
Interests
Japanese pop cultureGeopoliticsArtificial intelligenceEconomicsStrength trainingChessReadingCooking