Meet Geetika Sapra, FMI’s digital information officer, who has built a career around making science more accessible. In this Q&A, she shares how the FMI library collection has evolved, what resources researchers might be missing out on, and her love for stats and painting.
What’s your career path been like?
I’m from Delhi, India, and moved to Basel in 2003 after getting married. I started at Actelion, digitizing records and eventually managing all digital library systems. After a short admin stint, I joined the FMI in 2018. It was the perfect fit - part-time and a chance to streamline digital info access. Since then, I’ve focused on making information more accessible - linking digital sources, integrating data, and reducing manual work.
How has the library changed over time?
When I started, we entered data by hand. Now, everything’s much more automated and regularly updated. In the old FMI building, the library was bigger and had more physical books. Since the move to our new building, we’ve digitized most of the collection, so we have fewer hard copies now. But if someone needs a physical book or journal, I can always order it.
What’s an interesting resource you provide that people might not know about?
We keep printouts of past grant applications, with the applicant’s permission. If someone’s applying for a grant, they can look at past examples to get an idea of the format or structure. They just have to sign an agreement promising not to misuse the information. Also, there’s a wall in the lobby near reception where we highlight articles from different research groups. If anyone wants their publication featured, they just need to tell me.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
I start by checking platforms like PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to find new publications by FMI researchers. I gather all that info and update our records - on average, we have three to four new publications a week. If someone needs an article or book, I handle the orders. I also manage grant-related documentation and maintain a curated database of useful links so people can easily find scientific information.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
I really enjoy the statistics side of things. Every year, I create a report that benchmarks FMI’s publication output against other top research institutes in Switzerland. It’s exciting to see how well we’re doing - especially in fields such as epigenetics and multicellular systems.
Any hidden gems in the library?
We have five main book categories: neurobiology, multicellular systems, genomics, and then a category called varia. That’s where we keep books on all sorts of topics, from career advice to personal stories from scientists. Some of my favorite titles are: What color is your parachute? (a career guide); The power of habit (why we do what we do); The mountain is you (about overcoming internal barriers).
What do you read for fun?
I enjoy reading the news sections of journals such as Nature. It’s a great way to keep up with the latest research in biology.
And what do you do outside of work?
I paint. I’ve held a few exhibitions, and everything I’ve made so far - about 20 paintings - has sold. I also love working with clay and pottery, especially with my daughter. It’s our creative time together.
In her free time, Geetika Sapra paints and works with clay and pottery-here are two of her handcrafted creations.Originally from Faridabad, India, Geetika Sapra earned a Bachelor’s degree in Home Science from Faridabad University. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher before moving to Switzerland in 2003. After working at Actelion in digital library systems for 10 years, she joined the FMI in 2018. She lives in Reinach with her husband and daughter. Outside of work, she’s an avid painter and potter.
