Francesca Casadio

Francesca Casadio is an Adjunct Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University and serves as the Associate Vice President and Grainger Executive Director of Conservation and Science at The Art Institute of Chicago (AIC). She co-founded the Northwestern University/Art Institute of Chicago Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts. Dr. Casadio holds a PhD and MS in Chemistry from the University of Milan, Italy, and completed an Erasmus fellowship at Imperial College London. She also earned a leadership certificate from the Getty Leadership Institute.

Her research focuses on applying scientific methods to study artworks, including materials and techniques from antiquity to contemporary art, with specialties in painting and 18th-century European porcelain. She has pioneered studies on works by John Singer Sargent, Gauguin, Picasso, and Van Gogh. Beyond research, she promotes public engagement through digital initiatives, educational programs, and Art+Science events targeting K-12 students.

She received the L’Oréal Art and Science of Color Silver Prize (2006) and has authored over 80 publications. As AIC’s first Mellon Senior Conservation Scientist, she established the museum’s scientific research laboratory and led interdisciplinary collaborations globally. Her leadership roles include directing conservation and science programs at AIC and advancing cultural heritage preservation through innovative public outreach.