cristina fornacelli | Spectroscopy | Chemical Scientist Award

Published on by Chemical Scientist

Dr. cristina fornacelli | Spectroscopy | Chemical Scientist Award

Research fellow, CNR-IFAC, Italy.

Cristina Fornacelli, Ph.D., is an Italian researcher specializing in archaeometry and the scientific study of cultural heritage materials. She has built a distinguished career through her expertise in applying advanced spectroscopic, imaging, and mineralogical techniques to the analysis of ceramics, glass, manuscripts, and historical artifacts. Her work has contributed significantly to the understanding of artistic and archaeological materials, ranging from medieval pottery and stained glass to illuminated manuscripts. With research experiences spanning prestigious institutions in Italy and abroad—including Northwestern University (Chicago), Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris), and the Victoria & Albert Museum (London)—she has developed a strong international profile. Cristina has collaborated with leading experts on projects funded by major research programs, such as the ERC nEU-Med project, and has authored numerous publications in high-impact journals. Her research bridges science and cultural heritage, advancing preservation strategies for artworks and historical objects.

Professional Profile 

Cristina Fornacelli’s academic path reflects her deep dedication to cultural heritage science. She earned her B.Sc. in Sciences applied to Cultural Heritage Conservation and Restoration from the University of Florence, graduating magna cum laude with a thesis on the thermo-hygrometric behavior of wooden panels in paintings. She continued at the University of Florence, completing an M.Sc. in Science for Cultural Heritage with a thesis on medieval illuminated manuscripts, achieving a score of 107/110. She was awarded an International Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Pisa, with a dissertation on the technological developments in glass production during the Art Nouveau period, focused on Chini glassworks. Her doctoral work combined spectroscopy and material science to uncover innovative aspects of early 20th-century glassmaking. Through her academic training, Cristina acquired a robust multidisciplinary foundation, blending physics, chemistry, earth sciences, and art conservation into a cohesive expertise.

Experience 

Cristina Fornacelli has accumulated extensive professional experience in cultural heritage research, primarily at the University of Siena and IFAC-CNR. She has held multiple research fellowships and grants focusing on the archaeometric study of ceramics, glass, and manuscripts. Her work includes investigations of medieval pottery from Tuscany, Etruscan ceramics, early medieval stained glass, and purple codices, using spectroscopic and imaging methods. She contributed to the ERC nEU-Med project, analyzing pottery and ceramic circulation in Central Italy, and collaborated on studies of glass tesserae from Siena’s Cathedral and Palazzo Pubblico. Beyond academia, she has provided scientific consulting for conservation projects involving historic palaces, Roman kilns, and polychrome terracotta sculptures. Internationally, Cristina has conducted research stays in France, Portugal, the UK, and the USA, applying advanced techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, and LA-ICP-MS. Her experience demonstrates a balance of laboratory expertise, archaeological fieldwork, and applied conservation science.

Professional Development

Cristina Fornacelli has consistently enhanced her professional profile through advanced training, international research placements, and participation in specialized schools. She completed research stages at NU-ACCESS, Northwestern University (Chicago), focusing on hyperspectral imaging and LA-ICP-MS for stained glass, and at MONARIS Laboratories, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris), where she deepened her expertise in Raman spectroscopy of colored glasses. At Vicarte Centre, Lisbon, she studied late 19th-century glass recipes, complementing her doctoral research. Earlier, she gained professional experience at the Victoria & Albert Museum (London), conducting chemical analyses of historical materials, and at Editech s.r.l. (Florence), applying multispectral diagnostics in cultural heritage. She also trained at the University of Florence’s Wood Technologies Department in panel painting conservation. In addition, Cristina has attended prestigious schools, including the 12th School on Synchrotron Radiation in Grado, Italy. Her continuous professional development reflects her commitment to integrating cutting-edge scientific methods with heritage conservation.

Skills & Expertise

Cristina Fornacelli possesses a broad technical skill set in archaeometry and cultural heritage diagnostics. She is highly proficient in spectroscopic methods such as Raman, UV-Vis-NIR, and Fiber Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS), as well as hyperspectral imaging for non-invasive analysis of artworks. Her expertise extends to X-ray fluorescence (XRF), SEM-EDX, TEM, ICP-AES, and XRD, allowing her to perform in-depth chemical and structural characterizations of historical materials. She is skilled in petrographic microscopy for mineralogical analysis and applies multivariate statistical methods (PCA, cluster analysis) to interpret complex datasets. Her IT proficiency includes MATLAB, Python, ImageJ, and specialized spectroscopy software. Cristina’s expertise lies in bridging laboratory science with field investigations, offering diagnostic solutions for ceramics, glass, pigments, manuscripts, and architectural materials. This blend of advanced analytical competence and contextual interpretation makes her a valuable contributor to both academic research and applied conservation projects across Europe and internationally.

Resarch Focus

Cristina Fornacelli’s research focuses on the scientific investigation of cultural heritage materials, combining spectroscopy, imaging, and archaeometric methods to study their composition, technology, and degradation. Her main interests include the analysis of ancient ceramics, from Etruscan and medieval pottery to early glazed ware, to reconstruct production techniques, trade, and circulation patterns. She also specializes in the study of glass materials, from Art Nouveau stained glass to Roman and medieval tesserae, with particular emphasis on the role of nanomaterials and transition metal complexes in coloring. Recently, she has advanced research on purple codices and illuminated manuscripts, exploring organic dyes and their interaction with environmental factors. Cristina’s approach integrates non-invasive diagnostics with laboratory-based analyses, aiming to develop sustainable strategies for conservation and preservation. Her multidisciplinary focus bridges archaeology, materials science, and conservation, contributing to a deeper understanding of cultural artifacts and their historical significance.

Awards & Recognitions

Throughout her career, Cristina Fornacelli has received several awards and distinctions recognizing her scientific achievements. She was awarded a grant to conduct research at Northwestern University (Chicago) and the Art Institute of Chicago (NU-ACCESS), where she applied state-of-the-art techniques to historical stained glass. She has also been selected to attend competitive international schools and conferences, including the 12th School on Synchrotron Radiation and the Congresso congiunto SIMP-AIV-SoGeI , both reserved for promising young scientists. Her research project on nanocrystalline phases in historical glass was accepted for advanced beamline analysis at the Argonne National Laboratory’s APS in Chicago, further highlighting the scientific relevance of her work. Cristina has also presented her findings at prestigious international conferences such as the International Symposium of Archaeometry (USA, Mexico, Portugal, Greece) and other global forums, reinforcing her reputation as an emerging leader in archaeometric research.

Publication Top Notes 

Cristina Fornacelli is a strong candidate for the Research for Chemical Scientist Award, particularly given her expertise in applying cutting-edge chemical and spectroscopic techniques to the study of cultural heritage materials. Her research blends chemistry, materials science, and cultural preservation, highlighting chemistry’s societal impact. To maximize competitiveness, she could emphasize citations, broader chemical applications, and leadership roles in future projects. Overall, her profile aligns well with the award’s mission of recognizing impactful and innovative contributions to chemical sciences.