Robert Krickl

Dr. Robert Krickl is a researcher affiliated with the Austrian Archaeological Institute (ÖAI) within the Austrian Academy of Sciences. His work focuses on archaeometry, non-invasive material analysis, and pigment studies. Since 2021, he has contributed to the Heritage Science Austria project PolychroMon, investigating the polychromy of Roman monuments in the Danubian Provinces. Previously, he held roles in science communication and research & development, specializing in geological materials and non-invasive analytical techniques like hyperspectral imaging and XRF.

Education:

• Studium der Erdwissenschaften (Earth Sciences) at the University of Vienna, focusing on material and resource research
• PhD (2006–2009) under the Marie Curie Chair of Excellence at the Institute for Mineralogy and Crystallography, University of Vienna

Research Interests: Pigments, archaeological materials, multispectral and hyperspectral analysis, light spectroscopy, and the application of non-invasive methods to uncover ancient polychromy. His work bridges geological sciences and archaeological conservation.

Awards:

• 2009: Promotio sub auspiciis Praesidentis rei publicae (Austrian Presidential Prize for outstanding doctoral thesis)

Roles & Projects:

• 2018–present: Public Relations Officer at the Geological Survey of Austria (Geologische Bundesanstalt)
• 2021–present: Core member of the PolychroMon project analyzing Roman architectural polychromy in the Danube region