Patrick Layton | PhD Researcher & Cultural Heritage Scientist
My work lives at the intersection of heritage and high technology. As a PhD Candidate at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste Wien , I specialize in the non-destructive and non-invasive analysis of cultural heritage materials—specifically leather, parchment, and paper. I believe we shouldn’t have to destroy history to understand it.
From Conservation to Chemistry
Before diving into the molecular level of manuscripts, I spent over a decade working with my hands as a book and paper conservator. From managing, hiring, and training student conservators at Brigham Young University to overseeing thousands of repairs at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, I developed a deep respect for the physical “materiality” of history.
Today, my research focuses on using External Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ER-FTIR) spectroscopy to “read” the chemical signatures of aging. By combining this contactless method with multivariate statistical analysis and machine learning (utilizing Python and R), I develop methodologies that can date historic manuscript bindings within a century—all without taking a single physical sample. My most recent work, published in the Nature Scientific Reports (2026), explores the potential of molecular decay dating and provided researchers with high-quality data while maintaining the total integrity of the artifact.
To keep my hand skills sharp and my dexterity precise—refined through years of repairing collections—I dedicate time to building intricate miniatures and crafting bespoke conservation tools. This practice of “thinking through making” ensures that even as I develop high-tech dating methodologies, I never lose my connection to the physical craft of bookbinding and the nuanced behavior of organic materials.
Why Non-Invasive Analysis Matters
Libraries and archives are the stewards of our collective memory. My goal is to provide researchers with high-quality, definitive data on the age and composition of their collections without compromising the integrity of the items. By proving that we can achieve accurate results through light and data rather than scalpels and samples, I’m helping open the doors of global collections to a more robust, preservation-friendly dating methodology.
I am a firm believer that libraries and archives are the heart of a healthy society. Historically, they are the early adopters of new technology—from 3D printing to advanced spectroscopy—serving as a vehicle for change and providing a positive environment for the public to interact with new tools.
Beyond the Lab
When I’m not analyzing spectral data or coding in Python and R, you’ll likely find me outside. Whether I’m white-water rafting, hiking, rock climbing or playing ultimate frisbee, I find that staying active is the best way to “recenter”. I am also an avid reader of Sci-Fi and a student of history, always looking for the lessons we’ve “already learned” but managed to forget.
