About Me

I am the founder of scivia LLC, a consultancy specialising in research data management and digital sustainability. Additionally, I serve as an adjunct lecturer at the FH Graubünden (University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons), Switzerland. My career has been built at the intersection of higher education, international projects, and contemporary digital challenges.

I hold a PhD and a teaching certificate from ETH Zurich, as well as project management certifications from IPMA and the University of Oxford. I am also an active member of the LIBER Research Data Management Working Group, the LIBER AI Task Force, and the scientific advisory committee of the data management portal olos.swiss.

With 20 years of experience in academia and multinational collaborations, I have worked with companies, academic institutions, research teams, and public authorities. My projects address critical challenges in research data management, FAIR / Open Science, AI in libraries, digital transformation and digital sustainability.

Using my extensive professional network, I collaborate with top experts to deliver tailored strategies and solutions for my clients. I also connect them with trusted colleagues when specialised expertise is needed.

I enjoy sharing my knowledge through guest lectures, thesis supervision, keynote speeches, and custom training workshops aimed at inspiring and empowering audiences.

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Publications

Below is only an excerpt of some of my recent publications. For a comprehensive overview, please see my ORCID profile or download the full publications list here:

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Books or Book Chapters

  1. Petrus, A., Wildi, T., & Müller, S. (2022) Swiss Virtual Natural History Collection (SVNHC). In: Digitale Transformation an der Fachhochschule Graubünden. Case Studies aus Forschung und Lehre. Forster, M., Alt, S., Hanselmann, M., Deflorin, P. (Eds.). p. 119-124. Fachhochschule Graubünden. Chur. ISBN: 978-3-907247-20-4

  2. Engelhardt, C.; Biernacka, K.; Coffey, A.; Cornet, R.; Danciu, A.; Demchenko, Y.; Downes, S.; Erdmann, C.; Garbuglia, F.; Germer, K.; Helbig, K.; Hellström, M.; Hettne, K.; Hibbert, D.; Jetten, M.; Karimova, Y.; Kryger Hansen, K.; Kuusniemi, M. E.; Letizia, V.; McCutcheon, V.; McGillivray, B.; Ostrop, J.; Petersen, B.; Petrus, A.; Reichmann, S.; Rettberg, N.; Reverté, C.; Rochlin, N.; Saenen, B.; Schmidt, B.; Scholten, J.; Shanahan, H.; Straube, A.; Van den Eynden, V.; Vandendorpe, J.; Venkataram, S.; Wiljes, C.; Wuttke, U.; Yeomans, J.; Zhou, B.. (2022) How to be FAIR with your data. A teaching and training handbook for higher education institutions. Göttingen University Press. Göttingen. pp. 206. ISBN 978-3-86-395539-7. DOI:10.17875/gup2022-1915
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Journal Articles

  1. Jurinjak Tušek, A., Petrus, A., Weichselbraun, A., Mundani, R.-P., Müller, S. M., Barkow, I., Bucić-Kojić, A., Planinić, M., Tišma, M. (2024) Systematic review of machine-learning techniques to support development of lignocellulose biorefineries. Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Quarterly, 38 (3) 241-263. DOI:10.15255/CABEQ.2023.2273

  2. Petrus, A., Wildi, T., Müller, S., Preproject ‘Swiss Virtual Natural History Collection’, Database, Volume 2023, 2023, baad072, DOI:10.1093/database/baad072

  3. Schuldt, K., Müller, S., Petrus, A., Schiller, D. H. (2023) Praxis von ORD unterstützenden Infrastrukturen in schweizerischen Hochschul- und Forschungseinrichtungen, Bausteine Forschungsdatenmanagement, Nr. 2 (May). DOI:10.17192/bfdm.2023.2.8524

  4. Barillari, C., Lütcke, H.,Sesartic Petrus, A., Töwe, M.,Wüst, T., Rinn, B. (2020) Supporting Scientists with FAIR Research Data Management - Initiatives at ETH Zurich and beyond. VSH-Bulletin. Nr. 2, August 2020. pp. 22-27. https://vsh-aeu.ch/download/275/VSH_Bulletin_August_2020_WEB.pdf

  5. Sesartic Petrus, A., & Töwe, M. (2019). Forschungsdatenmanagement an der ETH Zürich: Ansätze und Wirkung, Bibliothek Forschung und Praxis, 43(1), 49-60. DOI:10.1515/bfp-2019-2002

  6. Salvatori, L., Sesartic, A., Lambeng, N., & Blumer, E. (2018). Keep calm and fill in your DMP: Lessons Learned from a Swiss DMP-template initiative. International Journal of Digital Curation. 13. 215-222. DOI:10.2218/ijdc.v13i1.617

  7. Wullschleger, M., & Sesartic, A. (2017). Finding the Best of Both Worlds: Bridging Research and Archives at ETH Zurich. ARC magazine 332. 21-22. DOI:10.3929/ethz-b-000164852

  8. Gastl, A., Geisser, F., Sesartic, A., Suri, R., & Töwe, M. (2016). iPRES 2016 in Bern - 13th International Conference on Digital Preservation. b.i.t. Online, 19(6), 578-583. https://www.b-i-t-online.de/heft/2016-06-reportage-gastl.pdf

  9. Sesartic, A., & Töwe, M. (2016). Research Data Services at ETH-Bibliothek. IFLA Journal, 42(4), 284–291. DOI:10.1177/0340035216674971 (Open Access: https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/hq/publications/ifla-journal/ifla-journal-42-4_2016.pdf#page=36)

  10. Sesartić, A., Fischlin, A., & Töwe, M. (2016). Towards Narrowing the Curation Gap—Theoretical Considerations and Lessons Learned from Decades of Practice. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 5(6), 91. DOI:10.3390/ijgi5060091
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Conference Proceedings

  1. Barkow, I., Petrus, A., Pfeiffer, M., Wildi, T. (2023). RetroLab. Das Bündner Kompetenzzentrum für Retro-Computing. In: W. Semar (Hrsg.): Nachhaltige Information — Information für Nachhaltigkeit. Tagungsband des 17. Internationalen Symposiums für Informationswissenschaft (ISI 2023), Chur, Schweiz, 7.—9. November 2023. Glückstadt: Verlag Werner Hülsbusch, S. 382—386. DOI:10.5281/zenodo.10009337

  2. Sesartic, A. & Dieudé, A. (2017). Research Data Management training and support services at both ETH Zurich and EPF Lausanne. In J. Kratzke, & V. Heuveline (Eds.) E-Science-Tage 2017: Forschungsdaten managen (pp. 5-12). Heidelberg: heiBOOKS. DOI:10.11588/heibooks.285.377

  3. Burgi, P.-Y., Blumer, E., Jelicic, A., Dieudé, A., & Sesartic, A. (2017). Innovative approach for project viability: from a diversity of business models to harmonized and scalable national services. In S. Hara, S. Sugimoto, & M. Goto (Eds.) Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Digital Preservation (pp. 264-265). Kyoto (Japan)

  4. Burgi, P.-Y., Blumer, E., Dieudé, A. & A. Sesartic. (2016). Workshop 05 Innovative Practices in Digital Preservation, Data Life Cycle Management (DLCM): A Swiss Initiative. In B. Signori, S. Knight, & N. Milic-Frayling (Eds.) Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Digital Preservation (pp. 306). Swiss National Library, Bern. HANDLE:11353/10.502767

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Talks & Workshops

The following is a sample of selected talks and workshops.

  1. Kramer, C., Krogh Kruuse, K., Kuusniemi, M. E., Petrus, A., Rodenburg, E., de Zwaan, M. (2025). Workshop 1.5 The Role of Libraries in Research Assessment for FAIR Data and Open Research. LIBER Conference, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2-4. July 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250617102516/https://liberconference.eu/workshop-1-5/

  2. Petrus, A. (2025) Retro-Computing und Digitale Nachhaltigkeit. Eine Reise durch verbindende Aspekte am Beispiel eines Praxisfalls. ADILT Ringvorlesung. Universität Konstanz. 22. May 2025

  3. Petrus, A. & Schultze, Simon. (2025) Data Librarianship – Gegenwart und Zukunft. DH-Dienstag. Universität Konstanz. 13 May 2025

  4. Petrus, A. (2024) Research Data Management. Workshop for the BEAMING EU Project. Bioeconomy Research Mooc. 09. December 2024.

  5. Petrus, A. (2024) Management von vertraulichen Forschungsdaten. Workshop am Tag der Forschung der FHNW. Muttenz, Switzerland, 7 November 2024

  6. Petrus, A. (2024) Research data management: a transferable skill of the future. University:Future Festival 2024. Berlin & Online. 5-7 June 2024. DOI:10.5281/zenodo.11074502

  7. Petrus, A. (2024) What is “Openness” anyway? Aus dem Projekt “Openness Score”. Vereinigung der Juristischen Bibliotheken der Schweiz. Jahrestagung 2024. St. Gallen. Switzerland. 15-17 May 2024. https://lawlibraries.ch/?page_id=2364&lang=de

  8. Petrus, A. & Bax de Keating, A. (2022). How to manage your research data. Academia Raetica. Four-part online course. 11 April 2022, 25 April 2022, 2 May 2022 and 16 May 2022.

  9. Petrus, A., Ziehmer, M. et al. (2019) Research Data Management Summer School. ETH Zurich, Switzerland. 4-7 May 2019.

  10. Petrus, A. (2019) Research Data Management. Workshop for Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Basel, Switzerland. 3 May 2019

  11. Petrus, A. (2019) Research Data Management Overview. Lecture at University of Fribourg, Switzerland. 19 March 2019

  12. Barillari, C.; Luetcke, H.; Sesartic, A.; Töwe, M.; Wuest, T.; Rinn, B. Local and national Swiss initiatives towards FAIR data. NETTAB 2018 Workshop - Building a FAIR Bioinformatics environment, Genova, Italy, 22-26 October 2018.

  13. Dieudé, A. & Sesartic, A. (2018) Data Management Plan - from theory to practice. Swiss Research Data Management Day. ETH Zurich. Switzerland. 12 June 2018

  14. Sesartic, A. (2018) Keep calm and manage your data. Research data management education for scientists in Switzerland. Lecture at University of Osijek, Croatia, 8 May 2018

  15. Sesartic, A.; Barillari, C.; Dieudé, A.; Krause, J.; Lütcke, H. Keep calm and manage your data - research data management education for scientists in Switzerland. European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2018, Vienna, Austria, 8-13 April 2018.

  16. Lambeng, N.; Delvert, K.; Salvatori, L.; Dieudé, A.; Krause, J.; Rey, R.; Panes, M.; Blumer, E.; Sesartic, A.; Töwe, M. (2018) Keep calm and fill in your DMP: Lessons Learned from a Swiss DMP-template initiative. 13. International Digital Curation Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 19-22 February 2018.

  17. Burgi, P.-Y., Blumer, E., Jelicic, A., Dieudé, A., Sesartic, A. (2017) Innovative approach for project viability: from a diversity of business models to harmonized and scalable national services. Workshop at the 14th International Conference on Digital Preservation, Kyoto, Japan, 25-29 September 2017.

  18. Sesartic, A., Töwe, M., Steurer, F., Hoffmann, A., Gloor, D. (2017) Datenmanagement nach Rezept. Scientifica – Zürcher Wissenschaftstage, Zürich, Switzerland, 1-3 September 2017.

  19. Sesartic, A., Dieudé, A. (2017) Research Data Management training and support services at ETH Zurich and EPF Lausanne: Lessons Learned, Best Practices, and the way forward. E-Science Days 2017: Managing Research Data. Heidelberg, Germany, 16-17 March 2017.

  20. Sesartic, A. (2016). Data Management Plan (DMP) and Checklist. Breakout Session 1 at the 1st Swiss Research Data Management Day, Lausanne, Switzerland, 29 November 2016.

  21. Wullschleger, M., & Sesartic, A. (2016) Finding the Best of Both Worlds: Bridging Research and Archives at ETH Zurich. Workshop on Scientific Archives. EMBL Archive. Heidelberg, Germany, 1-2 November 2016.

  22. Burgi, P.-Y., Blumer, E., Dieudé, A., Sesartic, A. (2016) Workshop 05 National-level Innovative Practices in Digital Preservation, Data Life Cycle Management (DLCM): A Swiss Initiative. 13th International Conference on Digital Preservation, Bern, Switzerland, 3-6 October 2016.

  23. Sesartic, A. (2016). Data Management. Swiss Internet Governance Forum - Internetarchive für die künftige Forschung der Schweiz. Bern. 24 May 2016

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Teaching

Teaching Philosophy

As a lecturer in information sciences, my teaching philosophy is grounded in fostering critical thinking, independent problem-solving, and deep engagement with the subject matter. I believe education is most effective when it challenges students to develop their own insights while equipping them with the skills to navigate and shape a rapidly evolving digital world.

Empathy plays a central role in my teaching. I aim to create a supportive classroom that values diverse perspectives and fosters mutual respect. By designing courses that accommodate varied learning needs and encourage open dialogue, I help students gain confidence in sharing ideas and questioning assumptions. A safe and collaborative environment is essential for building the independent thinking and analytical skills required in our field.

I embrace innovative teaching methods, integrating modern technologies and real-world case studies to bridge theory and practice. Project-based learning is a key element of my approach, allowing students to tackle complex, real-world problems while honing critical thinking and teamwork skills. Where appropriate, I incorporate research and publication opportunities into teaching, encouraging students to see themselves as contributors to the advancement of the discipline.

At the heart of my practice is a commitment to lifelong learning, for both myself and my students. I regularly reflect on my teaching, seek feedback, and adapt my methods to ensure they remain relevant and effective. I also engage with professional development opportunities to explore new strategies for enhancing student learning and engagement.

My ultimate aim is to inspire students to recognise the transformative potential of information sciences, not just as a career path but as a way to make meaningful contributions to society. By promoting independent and critical thinking within an inclusive and innovative environment, I strive to prepare students to excel in their field and make a lasting impact on the world.

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Current Regular Lectures

Bachelor Level

Master Level

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Theses

I regularly act as both main and co-supervisor of case studies, bachelor theses and master theses. If you are a student at one of the universities I teach at and interested to write a thesis under my supervision, or, if you’re a study coordinator interested in hiring me for supervision of a thesis, don’t hesitate to reach out. Supervision places are given on a first-come-first-serve basis and availability changes from semester to semester.

Thesis topics are possible in the following research areas:

Research Data and Data Management

  • Data Life-Cycle
  • Research Data Management
  • Data Management Plans
  • Data Stewardship
  • Data Librarianship
  • Data Policies
  • Long-term preservation
  • File Formats
  • Operational Data Management

Open Science and Scholarly Communication

  • Open Science and Open Data
  • Scientific Publishing
  • Scientific Collaboration
  • Scientific Writing

Digital Competencies and Information Handling

  • Digital Literacy
  • Personal Information Management
  • Digital Sustainability

Information Science and Technology

  • Digital Sustainability
  • Responsible AI
  • AI and Libraries
  • Business Informatics
  • Data Analysis

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Contact

E-Mail

Social Media

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