Inês Coutinho

Inês Coutinho is a permanent Assistant Professor in the Department of Conservation and Restoration at NOVA University Lisbon’s Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FCT). She teaches and conducts research at the intersection of conservation science, archaeometry, and glass studies, with a particular focus on Portuguese and European heritage glass.

Education

• PhD in Conservation Sciences, 2016 – specialisation in glass archaeometry.

Research Interests

Her scientific agenda centres on the archaeometry of glass and ceramics, integrating experimental archaeology, materials science, and heritage conservation. She investigates:

• Historical recipes, trade routes, and technological transfer of glass production in Portugal and Europe.
• Glass corrosion mechanisms to devise improved conservation treatments.
• Provenance studies using chemical and isotopic fingerprinting of raw materials and artefacts.
• Non-invasive imaging (µ-CT) for documentation and diagnosis of degradation pathologies.

Publication Trends

Across 25 peer-reviewed works (2016-2025), Coutinho’s research spans Roman to Early Modern periods, with case studies in Troia, Lisbon, Zadar, Granada, Dublin, and beyond. A clear trend emerges: combining micro-analytical techniques (SEM-EDS, LA-ICP-MS, µ-CT) with experimental reconstructions to reconstruct technology, provenance, and conservation protocols for luxury, utilitarian, and stained glass.

Grants & Projects

• Principal Investigator (team member) on The Stained Glass Collection of King Ferdinand II of Portugal – Assembling the Puzzle (2012-2016).

Laboratories & Teams

She carries out analyses within the Conservation and Restoration laboratories at FCT/UNL, collaborating with national museums, international partners, and the Doctoral Programme in Heritage Conservation and Restoration.