Science
Tom Learner, Head
Tom Learner, Head

Tom Learner is head of the GCI's Science department; he oversees all the Institute's scientific research, developing and implementing projects that advance conservation practice in the visual arts. He was a GCI senior scientist from 2007 to 2013, overseeing the Modern and Contemporary Art Research initiative, during which time he developed an international research agenda related to the conservation of modern paints, plastics, and contemporary outdoor sculpture. Prior to his arrival at the GCI, he served as a senior conservation scientist at Tate, London, where he developed Tate's analytical and research strategies for modern materials and led the Modern Paints project in collaboration with the GCI and National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. He was a GCI Conservation Guest Scholar in residence in 2001. Learner is both a chemist and a conservator, with a PhD in chemistry from Birkbeck College, University of London, and a diploma in the conservation of easel paintings from the Courtauld Institute of Art.

Email: tlearner@getty.edu

Vincent Beltran, Scientist
Vincent Beltran, Scientist

Vincent Beltran joined GCI Science in 2002. He has been an active participant in a range of research projects including the mechanical characterization of historic materials, the effect of reduced oxygen environments on color change, evaluations of packing case performance during transport, and assessments of environmental management systems in hot and humid climates. He is a co-author with Shin Maekawa and Michael C. Henry of Environmental Management for Collections: Alternative Conservation Strategies for Hot and Humid Climates. He holds a BS in General Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles and a MS in Oceanography (Geochemistry) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Current GCI projects: Museum Lighting Research, Managing Collection Environments and Conservation and Management of the Tomb of Tutankhamen.

Email: vbeltran@getty.edu

Beril Biçer-Simşir, Associate Scientist
Beril Biçer-Simşir, Associate Scientist

Beril Biçer-Simşir graduated with a BS degree in civil engineering from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, and received an MS degree in civil engineering, with a specialty in the area of construction materials, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research interests include lime and lime-based hydraulic repair mortars and injection grouts. She is a member of ASTM Committee C07 on Lime, RILEM Technical Committee 203 on repair mortars for historic masonry, the RILEM Technical Committee SGM on specifications for nonstructural grouting of historic masonries and architectural surfaces, and APT. Current GCI projects: Alternative Backing Methods for Lifted Mosaics, Eames House Conservation Project, Herculaneum Project, and Injection Grouts for the Conservation of Architectural Surfaces.

Email: bbicersimsir@getty.edu

Alexandra Bridarolli, Assistant Scientist
Alexandra Bridarolli, Postdoctoral Fellow

Alexandra Bridarolli is an Assistant Scientist in the Science Department at GCI and contributes to the ongoing research of the Managing Collections Environments (MCE) Initiative. She originally joined the GCI in 2019 for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellow in Conservation Science. During her fellowship, she participated in research in preventive conservation, particularly for modern polymeric materials (i.e. plastics). She received her PhD in Material Science from Eastman Dental Institute, University of College London, investigating green-based nanocellulose treatments for the structural consolidation of paintings canvas. She also holds a diplome d'ingenieur in Chemistry, specializing in analytical chemistry from ECPM European Graduate School of Chemistry, Polymers, and Materials Science, France; and a MA in Chemistry from TU Dresden, Germany. Current GCI project: Managing Collection Environments

Email: abridarolli@getty.edu

David Carson, Laboratory Manager
David Carson, Laboratory Manager

David Carson, who began his career at the GCI in 1996, is the manager of the GCI scientific laboratories and is responsible for the oversight, maintenance, and safety of the equipment and activities performed in the laboratories. He provides technical assistance to GCI scientists, visiting scholars, and interns in support of a number of research projects. Current GCI projects: Eames House Conservation Project, Herculaneum Project, and Injection Grouts for the Conservation of Architectural Surfaces.

Email: dcarson@getty.edu

Ashley Freeman, Associate Scientist
Naoki Fujisawa, Scientist
Naoki Fujisawa, Scientist

Naoki Fujisawa joined the GCI in 2018 to work on the Managing Collection Environments project, addressing research questions and practical issues pertaining to the control and management of collection environments in museums. He received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from The University of New South Wales, Australia. Prior to becoming a staff member, he has worked on the nanomechanics of a range of materials using nanoindentation as well as researching fundamental aspects of nanoindentation as a technique for characterizing the mechanical properties of small volumes of materials. Current GCI projects: Managing Collections Environments Initiative.

Email: NFujisawa@getty.edu

Monica Ganio, Associate Scientist
Monica Ganio, Assistant Scientist

Monica Ganio received her PhD in geology from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and a MSc and BSc in Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage from the University of Torino. She joined the GCI in 2015 to work on technical studies originating from the Antiquities, and Sculpture and Decorative Arts conservation departments in the Getty Museum. Prior to arriving at the GCI, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University/Art Institute of Chicago Center for Scientific Studies in the Art (NU-ACCESS), where she was involved in a number of projects including: characterization of copper alloy compositions in twentieth-century bronze sculpture, technical studies of Romano-Egyptian portraits, and the characterization of archaeological and modern deeply-colored glass. Current GCI projects: Technical Studies Research.

Email: mganio@getty.edu

Davide Gulotta, Scientist
“Davide

Davide Gulotta joined the GCI in 2019 to work on the Built Heritage Research Initiative projects, undertaking scientific research and analysis on stone and other traditional building materials to explore their performance and deterioration. He worked as a researcher at MaMeCH Lab (Materials and Methods for Cultural Heritage) of Politecnico di Milano where he focused on the natural and artificial stone materials of cultural heritage. He received his PhD in Preservation of the Architectural Heritage at the PhD School of Politecnico di Milano, Italy, a Postgraduate Master degree in Materials and Diagnostics Methods for the Cultural Heritage at Universitá di Pisa, Italy and his MSc in Architecture at the Politecnico di Torino, Italy. Current GCI projects: Sandstone Conservation and Concrete.

Email: dgulotta@getty.edu

Art Kaplan, Associate Scientist
Art Kaplan, Assistant Scientist

Art Kaplan has spent a decade working on the application of analytical instrumentation to the identification and study of photographic processes and materials. His research focuses on the use of noninvasive and nondestructive techniques in the identification of photographic processes. In addition his research has focused on detailed analytical study of black-and-white photographic papers as a tool for provenance and authentication studies. His past work included scientific analysis of View from the Window at Le Gras and three other images by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce for which he was co-recipient of the Colin Ford Award from the Royal Photographic Society in 2011. He received his Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry from California State University Northridge. Current GCI project: Photographic Processes Research.

Email: akaplan@getty.edu

Herant Khanjian, Associate Scientist
Herant Khanjian, Associate Scientist

Herant Khanjian received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from California State University Northridge and has been a member in the Science department since 1988. His research involves detection and identification of organic media found in historical objects and architecture. He is a coauthor of Solvent Gels for the Cleaning of Works of Art. His current research focuses on the identification of Asian lacquers and coatings from outdoor sculptures. He has also been involved in analysis of modern paints and the study of Disney animation cels collection. Current GCI projects: Characterization of Asian and European Lacquers, Eames House Conservation Project, Modern Paints, Preservation of Plastics, Research on the Conservation of Photographs, and Salk Institute Conservation Project.

Email: hkhanjian@getty.edu

Olivia Kuzio, Assistant Scientist
Olivia Kuzio Assistant Scientist

Olivia Kuzio Olivia Kuzio is a member of the Technical Studies Research (TSR) laboratory. Her projects center around imaging systems, with a focus on expanding the Institute's capabilities in hyperspectral imaging and incorporating it with other scientific imaging techniques, such as macro-XRF scanning. She conducts technical studies on works of art to address questions of composition, artistic practice, and material degradation as she works to develop standard protocols for multi- and hyperspectral imaging of museum objects. She was previously a Getty Graduate Intern (2019-2020) and a GCI Professional Fellow (2022-2023) in the TSR lab. She received a PhD in color science from Rochester Institute of Technology and holds MS and BS degrees in chemistry from RIT and Pennsylvania State University, respectively. Current GCI projects: Technical Studies.

Email: okuzio@getty.edu

Anna Laganà, Senior Research Specialist
Anna Laganà, Senior Research Specialist

Anna Laganà joined the GCI in 2016 as a research specialist in the conservation of plastics. She will lead a number of components of the Preservation of Plastics project including the investigation of treatment options for plastic works of art and will develop workshops on the conservation of plastics. Anna received her diploma in conservation at the Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro in Rome with a thesis on plastics. Since then her work and research have focused on the conservation and preservation of plastics in museum collections. Before joining the GCI, Anna collaborated with several museums and institutions; worked as coordinator at the Centro Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale in Turin, was a conservator/researcher of plastics at the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherland and most recently was as a lecturer at the University of Amsterdam. She was a 2015 Conservation Guest Scholar. Current GCI project: Preservation of Plastics.

Email: alagana@getty.edu

Michal Łukomski, Senior Scientist
Michal Łukomski, Senior Scientist

Michal Łukomski is head of Preventive Conservation research, which assesses the effects of environmental conditions and lighting on museum objects. He received his PhD in physics from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, in 2003 and completed his postdoctorate fellowship at the University of Windsor in Canada. For the last several years, he has worked on describing quantitatively the response of hygroscopic materials relevant to collections of fine and decorative art, in particular wood, textiles, animal glue, gesso and paints to variations of climate conditions, using several scientific methods. His current area of research focuses on the mechanical characterization of historic materials and their response to changes of environmental parameters, as well as investigation of painted surfaces by advanced optical techniques. Current GCI project: Managing Collection Environments.

Email: mlukomski @getty.edu

Douglas MacLennan, Assistant Scientist
Douglas MacLennan, Assistant Scientist

Douglas MacLennan joined the Technical Studies research laboratory in 2016. His work focuses on the technical examination of works of art in collaboration with both conservators and curators. His research interests include the use of XRF and multispectral reflectance imaging spectroscopy for the noninvasive study of works of art. Prior to joining the GCI, he was an assistant paintings conservator at the Getty Museum and was a Getty Graduate Intern (2014-2015). MacLennan received a postgraduate diploma in the conservation of easel paintings from the Courtauld Institute of Art , and a double BA in History and German from the University of Michigan. Current GCI projects: Technical Studies research and Concrete Art in Argentina and Brazil.

Email: dmaclennan@getty.edu

Joy Mazurek, Associate Scientist
Joy Mazurek, Associate Scientist

Joy Mazurek specializes in the identification and characterization of natural and synthetic organic materials by a number of analytical techniques including gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and ion chromatography. She also works on the classification of biomarkers produced by microbiological deterioration from a range of cultural heritage materials. She is currently an assistant coordinator for the Scientific Research working group of ICOM-CC. She obtained her MS in biology, with emphasis in microbiology from California State University Northridge, and a BS degree in biology from University of California Davis. Current GCI projects: Herculaneum Project, Modern Paints, Preservation of Plastics, and Salk Institute Conservation Project.

Email: jmazurek@getty.edu

Nicole Onishi, Senior Project Coordinator
Nicole Onishi, Senior Project Coordinator

Nicole Onishi joined the Institute in 2014 and is responsible for assisting the Head of Science and providing project support for the Science department. She received her undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of California Los Angeles. Prior to joining the GCI she worked as the Studio and Production Manager at CFP Studio Photography, providing marketing, creative and outreach services, as well as overseeing the production process. She then joined the Membership team at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), where she was responsible for cultivating engagement by providing meaningful cultural experiences for LACMA's membership base and assist in events for exhibition previews, tours, and art history lectures.

Email: nonishi@getty.edu

Roshanak Parisi, Senior Staff Assistant
Roshanak Parisi, Senior Staff Assistant

Roshanak Parisi joined the GCI in 2022 with over 10 years of academic coordination and experience in a range of administrative functions in higher education and healthcare service industries. She received a Certificate in Advance Textile Art from Capilano University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia, Canada. Prior to joining the GCI, she worked as the Academic Day Coordinator in the Psychiatry Postgraduate Education Office at the University British Columbia then moved to Los Angeles to work at Aurora Sage as their Assistant Studio Manager.

Email: rparisi@getty.edu

Catherine Patterson, Scientist
Catherine Patterson, Scientist

Catherine Schmidt Patterson received her PhD in physical chemistry at Northwestern University. Her primary areas of research are the use of non- or minimally invasive techniques such as Raman microspectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, technical imaging to study works of art, development of new analytical methodologies, and technology transfer for the benefit of cultural heritage science. Prior to becoming a staff member in 2009, she was a GCI Postdoctoral Fellow in Conservation Science (2007–2009). Current GCI projects: Technical Studies research, DISCO, and Researching Florentine Workshop Practice.

Email: cpatterson@getty.edu

Jeannie Rozzi, Administrative Assistant

Jeannie Rozzi Jeannie has worked in the art industry for over 20 years and has a background in project management, logistics, and event planning and management. She joined the GCI in 2006 and assists with administrative operations of the Science department.

Email: jrozzi@getty.edu

Michael Schilling, Senior Scientist
Michael Schilling, Senior Scientist

Michael Schilling is head of Materials Characterization research at the GCI, which focuses on development of analytical methods for studying classes of materials used by artists and conservators. He specializes in gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis applications. Present research activities involve a broad range of traditional and contemporary art materials, such as Asian lacquers, plastics (especially in animation cels), and modern paints. In GCI projects to conserve wall paintings in China and Egypt, he studied the paint media and coatings. Development of improved analytical protocols is a key element of his work; he teaches these procedures to scientists and conservators in analytical workshops. Current GCI projects: Characterization of Asian and European Lacquers and Preservation of Plastics.

Email: mschilling@getty.edu

Karen Trentelman, Senior Scientist
Karen Trentelman, Senior Scientist

Karen Trentelman is head of Technical Studies research, which focuses on the scientific study of works of art to further the understanding and preservation of these works in collaboration with conservators and curators. Current areas of interest include: firing conditions used in the production of Athenian pottery, revealing hidden layers in paintings and manuscripts using noninvasive spectroscopic and imaging technologies, and fostering integration of imaging and analytical data. She trains scientists and conservators in the application of XRF spectroscopy to the study of works of art. She holds a PhD in chemical physics from Cornell University and was a research scientist at the Detroit Institute of Arts before joining the GCI in 2004. Current GCI projects: Athenian Pottery Project, DISCO, and Technical Studies research.

Email: ktrentelman@getty.edu

Catherine Whalen, Project Manager
Catherine Whalen, Project Manager

Catherine Whalen joined the Institute in 2018. She assists the Laboratory Manager and supports the scientific staff in all ongoing laboratory operations. Cat received her undergraduate degree in Art History from New York University in 2008. Her interest in historic preservation and conservation was solidified during her two years as Museum Administrator for the 1832 Merchant's House Museum, a member of the Historic House Trust of the City of New York. She served as Manager of the Laboratories and Study Collection at New York University's Institute of Fine Arts Conservation Center for six years before moving to Los Angeles.

Email: cwhalen@getty.edu

Simeon Wilkie, Associate Scientist
“Simeon

Simeon Wilkie joined the GCI in 2019 to work on the Built Heritage Research Initiative projects, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, to work on evaluating conservation treatments for porous heritage building materials (including concrete) and undertake laboratory- and field-based analysis and testing. He received his PhD at the Concrete Technology Unit of the University of Dundee, Scotland where he also received his BEng in Civil Engineering. Prior to joining the GCI, he worked as a Research Assistant and undergraduate tutor/lab demonstrator at the University of Queensland and as a Site Engineer and Quality Assurance Manager at Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering. Current GCI projects: Sandstone Conservation, Concrete.

Email: swilkie@getty.edu