Hartmut Kutzke
Hartmut Kutzke works as chemist and heritage scientist at KHM. After studies in chemistry with the major subjects biochemistry and mineralogy/crystallography, and further studies in oriental art history and archaeology, he obtained a doctoral degree from the University of Bonn with a thesis on organic crystals of historical importance. He was employed in different exhibition and research projects covering various aspects of cutural history and heritage science, before he joined KHM in 2007.
His main research interests are analyses of materials used on art and archaeological objects, studies of written sources on art technology and their reproduction in the laboratory, investigation of jewellery, metals, gemstones and their imitations, pigments and dyestuffs, development of bio-inspired conservation materials, and the role of colours, minerals and gemstones in cultural history. Analytical techniques he is most familar with are those related to crystallography, i.e. IR and Raman spectroscopy, and XRD. And as all members of the group, he is very much interested in exploring new ways in science communication.
Lavinia de Ferri
Lavinia de Ferri is an heritage scientist working at KHM since September 2020. She graduated in Science for concervation of Cultural Heritage at the University of Parma and had her PhD at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia studying the structure of weathered historical window glass and sol-gel based coatings for their protection.
Before joining KHM she worked as Post-doc in several universities (Politecnico di Milano, University of Parma, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology) applying different analytical techniques for diagnostic purposes on artworks and archaeological items.
She is mostly specialized in vibrational and electronic spectroscopy, but has also experience in colorimetry, XRD, imaging techniques, DRIFT, HPLC and acoustic emission for the study of several materials such as natural and artificial stone materials (stones, glass, ceramics, faiance, mortars, plasters) mobile paintings, frescos, pigments, textiles (dyes and fibres) and wood.
Calin Steindal
Calin Steindal holds a B.Sc. in biochemistry, a M.Sc. in analytical chemistry and a PhD degree from the University of Oslo in the field of organic chemistry. After working as a researcher within organic synthesis, he joined KHM in 2013 as a lab engineer, and then as researcher. He is conducting research on silicone-based conservation materials for archaeological wood in the Saving Oseberg project, along with applying several analytical techniques in wood characterisation.
He is mainly focused and well versed on chromatographic techniques (GCMS, LCMS), but has been building up solid experience in SEM-EDS, XRF, FTIR, XRD and Raman. He has been analyzing a large range of material, along with been responsible for the instruments’ analytical techniques maintenance.
Susan Braovac
Susan Braovac holds a bachelor degree in biochemistry from McGill University, Montreal, Canada (1989) and a Master degree in Object Conservation from Queen's University, Kingston, Canada (1993). In 2015, she obtained a PhD on the deterioration and re-conservation of alum-treated wood through the School of Conservation, Copenhagen. Since 1995, Susan worked as a conservator at the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo. Currently she participates in the Saving Oseberg project as a conservation researcher.
Her main interests are conservation of archaeological wood, research into the deterioration of alum-treated wood, and climate in museums.
Angeliki Zisi
Angeliki Zisi works as an archaeological conservator at the Department of Collection Management at KHM, which she joined in 2018. She holds a B.Sc. in Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art from the University of West Attica in Greece (2005) and a PhD from the University of Southampton in the UK (2016) on the use of non-destructive ultrasound as a tool with practical applications in the fields of wood conservation, maritime archaeology, in situ heritage preservation, geophysics and wood science. Following a course in wood identification at the Jodrell Laboratory in Kew Gardens (UK), she worked as a research visitor on the identification of waterlogged woods from underwater archaeological excavations in Greece, Bulgaria and the UK. A short-term placement as a research assistant for the lab followed.
Her research focus is on various aspects of wood from different burial environments, as well as how to secure a safe environment for objects in museums exhibitions and storage (Oddy test, etc). She is component with use of SEM, FTIR and light microscope, and continues to develop her competence in wood and charcoal identification.