Biographie

Edith Joseph received an MSc degree in fine and materials chemistry from the University of Nantes (France) in 2001.
Then, she collaborated with the Microchemistry and Microscopy Art Diagnostic Laboratory (University of Bologna, Italy) and participated to approximately 10 international, European and Italian research projects. Among them, she fully engaged within the Eu-ARTECH project (Access, Research and Technology for the Conservation of the European Cultural Heritage FP6-Integrated Infrastructure Initiative, RII3-CT-2004-506171, 2004-2009) on the development and evaluation of new treatments for the conservation-restoration of outdoor stone and bronze monuments. In 2009, she obtained a PhD degree in environmental and heritage chemistry on the application of FTIR microspectroscopy to cultural heritage materials, in particular on the characterization of thin organic films within polychrome matrices. In particular, she was involved in a UNESCO-supported project examining the probably first example of fresco paintings in Far East Asia from the complex of Koguryo tombs. In addition, she participated also to in situ investigations on a famous Beato Angelico Triptych exposed in Florence (It) and on the 14 portraits of Famous Men exposed in Urbino (It).
From 2010 to 2012, her Marie Curie fellowship at the Swiss National Museum aims at the development of biological protective treatments for copper, iron and silver artefacts (BAHAMAS-Biological patinA for arcHaeological and Artistic Metal ArtefactS, FP7-Marie Curie Intra European Fellowship, PIEF-GA-2009-252759, 2010-2012). In 2010, she was awarded from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions with a prize celebrating the 50’000th Marie Curie fellow, for outstanding research addressing societal challenge.
In 2013, she was granted at the University of Neuchâtel a Swiss National Science Foundation Ambizione fellowship on the use of microorganisms for the desalination of archaeological iron (Microbes for Archaeological Iron Artworks, SNSF-Ambizione, PZ00P2_142514, 2013-2015).
In 2016, she obtained a prestigious SNSF Professorship proposing a breakthrough innovation, yet eco-friendly strategy for the conservation of wooden artefacts after excavation (MICMAC- MICrobes for the Archaeological wood Conservation, PP00P2_163653, 2016-2020).
In parallel, she is employed as scientific collaborator (since 2012) and Professeure chargée d’enseignement HES (since February 2017) at the Haute Ecole Arc Conservation-restauration (University of Applied Sciences HES-SO, Neuchâtel, CH) and developed her research activities on biotechnologies applied to cultural heritage involving both institutions.
The characterization of heterogeneous matrixes and the interaction between organic substances and inorganic compounds is one of her research interests. She published more than 45 articles in international journals and books and about 85 communications (oral or poster) submitted to national and International Conferences. She also participated in more than 25 national and international research projects dealing with archaeometry on paintings, ceramics, polychrome leathers, archaeological objects and outdoor bronze monuments.