I am an Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in Conservation Science within the Department of Scientific Research at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In collaboration with conservators, curators, and fellow scientists, I use chemistry to uncover art historical secrets that would otherwise be lost to time. My research focuses on using high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify organic dyes and pigments in works of art. At the Met, I have worked on various projects ranging from the development of methodology for the minimally invasive analysis of prints and paintings to the identification of a novel lichen dye in a 15th century medieval tapestry.
Prior to coming to the Met, I completed my PhD in Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. My thesis in the lab of David M. Chenoweth focused on the design and synthesis of organic dyes and other tools for applications to microscopy. Before that, I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at Yale University, where I was an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Scott J. Miller.
Interested in learning more? Send me an email!