TUM | Germany
Dr. Clarimma Sessa is a distinguished conservation scientist specializing in material science and cultural heritage preservation. She is currently pursuing her Habilitation (Venia legendi) in Material Science at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where her thesis focuses on advancing non-destructive multimodal analytical tools for in-situ cultural heritage studies. She holds a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Barcelona, where her research pioneered specific analytical methodologies for the study of artworks, following a master’s in Advanced Chemistry and dual degrees in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage from the University of Perugia. Professionally, Dr. Sessa serves as Head of the insiTUMlab at TUM and Senior Conservation Scientist in the Department of Architecture, with previous experience at the Doerner Institut, Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Munich, and international collaborations including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Her expertise spans pigments analysis, cultural heritage diagnostics, advanced spectroscopy, and the development of practical conservation protocols. Recognized with prestigious awards, including the Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, she has contributed significantly to bridging analytical chemistry with heritage science. Through leadership, teaching, and research, Dr. Sessa advances innovative methodologies that strengthen the preservation, study, and appreciation of cultural heritage worldwide.
Author Profile: Orcid
Featured Publications
Wu, Y., Angelin, E.M., Danzl, T., Park, S., & Sessa, C. (2025). Towards the Understanding of Keim’sche Mineralfarben in Architectural Paints: Material Characterization and Phase Quantification on selected Historical Pigment Admixtures. Dyes and Pigments.
Pungercar, V., Wu, Y., Sessa, C., & Kränkel, T. (2025). Investigating efflorescence in salt-cement composites: The impact of surface inclination and salt waste types on resource-efficient construction materials. Case Studies in Construction Materials.
Sessa, C., Angelin, E.M., Jürgens, M., Roldão, É., Kemp, C., & Pamplona, M. (2023). Carl August Steinheil’s pioneering daguerreotypes: Nondestructive investigation of his production and processing methods. Conference paper.
Neugebauer, W., Sessa, C., Steuer, C., Allscher, T., & Stege, H. (2019). Naphthol Green – a forgotten artists’ pigment of the early 20th century. History, chemistry and analytical identification. Journal of Cultural Heritage.
Sessa, C., Weiss, R., Niessner, R., Ivleva, N.P., & Stege, H. (2018). Towards a Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectra database for synthetic organic colourants in cultural heritage. The effect of using different metal substrates on the spectra. Microchemical Journal.
Sessa, C., Bagán, H., Romero, M.T., & García, J.F. (2017). Effects of variability sources on analysis of the composition of large ancient metal objects. Microchemical Journal.
Sessa, C., Jiménez de Garnica, R., Rosi, F., Fontana, R., & García, J.F. (2016). A Study of Picasso’s Painting Materials and Techniques in Six of His Early Portraits. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation.