Dr. M. Auxiliadora Gómez-Morón | Chemistry | Best Researcher Award
Dr. M. Auxiliadora Gómez-Morón, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Spain
Mª Auxiliadora Gómez Morón is a distinguished chemist specializing in analytical chemistry applied to cultural heritage conservation. Based in Sevilla, Spain, she has over two decades of experience working with advanced analytical techniques to study and preserve historical materials, particularly metals and polychromies in heritage artifacts. Auxiliadora holds a Licenciatura in Chemical Sciences from the University of Sevilla and completed a doctoral thesis with highest honors on non-invasive methodologies for heritage diagnostics at Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Her expertise spans radioactive installation supervision, metal corrosion analysis, and laser cleaning applications. She has contributed extensively to the conservation of Andalusian cultural heritage through numerous consultancy projects for museums and restoration institutions. Currently, she is a technical chemical expert at the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage and an associate professor at Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Auxiliadora’s work bridges chemistry, art restoration, and history, highlighting her multidisciplinary impact.
Profile
Education
Auxiliadora Gómez Morón earned her Licenciatura in Chemical Sciences with a fundamental specialty from the University of Sevilla (1989–1994). She pursued doctoral coursework in Soil Science, Agricultural Chemistry, and Applied Mineralogy within the Department of Crystallography, Mineralogy, and Agricultural Chemistry at the University of Sevilla (1994–1996). In 1997, she received the Certificate of Pedagogical Aptitude from the University of Sevilla’s Education Sciences Institute. She achieved research proficiency in the doctoral program on Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry (1999). In 2010, she completed a Master’s Degree in Lasers and Applications in Chemistry (Quimiláser), jointly awarded by several Spanish universities. Her master’s thesis evaluated Nd-YAG laser cleaning effects on polychromies in historical heritage. Between 2016 and 2021, she completed doctoral courses in History and Humanistic Studies at Universidad Pablo de Olavide, culminating in her PhD thesis on non-invasive diagnostic methodologies for Andalusian cultural heritage, awarded summa cum laude with international mention in 2021.
Experience
Since 1999, Auxiliadora has supervised radioactive installations critical for material analysis in heritage conservation, including at the University of Sevilla and the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage. Her extensive consultancy portfolio spans analysis and characterization of corrosion products, patinas, and metal alloys in significant sculptures, architectural elements, and museum artifacts. Projects include electrochemical studies for the restoration of the Giraldillo in Seville and material characterization for cathedrals and museums across Spain. From 2009 onward, she has served as a technical chemist at the Instituto Andaluz de Patrimonio Histórico and as an associate professor at Universidad Pablo de Olavide, integrating research and teaching. Her professional contributions include pioneering non-invasive analytical methods, laser cleaning applications, and electrochemical techniques, reinforcing conservation science protocols. Her work consistently supports restoration projects with rigorous chemical analyses, combining scientific expertise with cultural heritage preservation.
Awards and Honors
Throughout her career, Mª Auxiliadora Gómez Morón has received commendations for her innovative contributions to conservation science. Her doctoral thesis earned the highest distinction of “sobresaliente cum laude” with an international mention, recognizing her groundbreaking methodology in non-invasive cultural heritage diagnostics. She has been entrusted with the supervision of key radioactive installations, underscoring her technical expertise and leadership in analytical chemistry for heritage applications. Auxiliadora’s consultancy work with prestigious institutions like the Instituto Andaluz de Patrimonio Histórico and several museums has earned institutional recognition for advancing the preservation of Spain’s cultural artifacts. Her participation in numerous international seminars and workshops reflects her commitment to continual professional development and knowledge dissemination. She is also acknowledged as a leading educator, fostering future generations of chemists and conservators through her academic role at Universidad Pablo de Olavide.
Research Skills on Chemistry
Auxiliadora Gómez Morón is proficient in a broad spectrum of analytical techniques crucial for cultural heritage science, including spectroscopy (XRF, Raman, IR), microscopy (SEM, electron microscopy), and electrochemical methods for corrosion assessment. She possesses expert-level skills in the supervision and operation of radioactive installations used for material characterization. Her laser expertise encompasses Nd-YAG laser cleaning, optimizing parameters to safely remove unwanted layers from historic polychromies without damaging substrates. She excels in the interpretation of complex data from multi-technique analytical campaigns and in drafting detailed technical reports for restoration projects. Additionally, she is skilled in non-invasive diagnostic methodologies, enabling the study of artifacts without sample extraction. Her experience includes project management, scientific consultancy for restoration interventions, and interdisciplinary collaboration with historians, conservators, and archaeologists. Auxiliadora’s teaching role further demonstrates her ability to convey complex scientific principles effectively to students and professionals alike.
Noted Publications
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Historical restorations of the Maqṣūrah glass mosaics from the Great Mosque of Córdoba
Authors: Teresa Palomar, Nadine Schibille, Luis Cerqueira Alves, Rafael Javier Díaz Hidalgo, María Auxiliadora Gomez-Morón
Journal: Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Cerámica y Vidrio
Year: 2023 -
Nanoparticles Applied to Stone Buildings
Authors: J. Becerra, A. P. Zaderenko, M. A. Gómez-Morón, P. Ortiz
Journal: International Journal of Architectural Heritage
Year: 2021 -
Study of two large-dimension Murillo’s paintings by means of macro X-ray fluorescence imaging, point X-ray fluorescence analysis, and stratigraphic studies
Authors: A. Križnar, F.J. Ager, C. Caliri, F.P. Romano, M.Á. Respaldiza, M.A. Gómez-Morón, L. Núñez, R. Magdaleno
Journal: X-Ray Spectrometry
Year: 2019 -
The Hidden Face of Cultural Heritage: A science window for the dissemination of elementary knowledge of risk and vulnerability in cultural heritage
Authors: P. Ortiz, R. Ortiz, J.M. Martín, R. Rodríguez-Griñolo, M.A. Vázquez, M.A. Gómez-Morón, M. Sameño, L. Loza, C. Guerra, J.M. Macías-Bernal, et al.
Journal: Heritage Science
Year: 2018 -
A new insight into the vaults of the kings in the Alhambra (Granada, Spain) by combination of portable XRD and XRF
Authors: M.A. Gómez-Morón, P. Ortiz, J.M. Martín-Ramírez, R. Ortiz, J. Castaing
Journal: Microchemical Journal
Year: 2016 -
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy study of silversmith pieces: The case of a Spanish canopy of the nineteenth century
Authors: M.A. Gómez-Morón, P. Ortiz, R. Ortiz, J.M. Martín, M.P. Mateo, G. Nicolás
Journal: Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing
Year: 2016 -
Laser spectroscopy and imaging applications for the study of cultural heritage murals
Authors: R. Ortiz, P. Ortiz, F. Colao, R. Fantoni, M.A. Gómez-Morón, M.A. Vázquez
Journal: Construction and Building Materials
Year: 2015 -
Accelerated weathering test as environmental behaviour trials on metals
Authors: M.A. Gómez-Morón, F. Martín-Cobos, P. Ortiz
Journal: Science, Technology and Cultural Heritage – Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress on Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage
Year: 2014 (Conference Paper) -
Accelerated weathering test as environmental behaviour trials on metals
Authors: M.A. Gómez-Morón, F. Martín-Cobos, P. Ortiz
Journal: Science, Technology and Cultural Heritage (Book Chapter)
Year: 2014 -
Painting woods vulnerability to ultraviolet exposure
Authors: M.A. Gómez-Morón, A. Tirado, P. Ortiz
Journal: Science, Technology and Cultural Heritage – Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress on Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage
Year: 2014 (Conference Paper) -
Painting woods vulnerability to ultraviolet exposure
Authors: M.A. Gómez-Morón, A. Tirado, P. Ortiz
Journal: Science, Technology and Cultural Heritage (Book Chapter)
Year: 2014