Maria Perla Colombini is a full Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry of Pisa University (Italy), and in the period 2013-2017 she was the Director of the Institute for Conservation and Valorization of Cultural Heritage of CNR. She retired on September 2021, and with the position of external Professor she is still teaching Chemistry of Cultural Heritage and researching at the Department of Chemistry.

Her main research lines are related to the development of innovative eco-friendly methodologies for the diagnosis and conservation of painted and wooden artefacts of archaeological, historical and artistic value; to the understanding the long-term behavior of organic materials systems in paintings and archaeological wood; to the implementation and application of integrated analytical methods for diagnosis of organic materials in cultural heritage; and to the development of protocols for Er:YAG laser cleaning of historical surfaces.

A major concern of her research is the study of transformation of synthetic and natural polymers induced by ageing and environmental pollution by analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC-MS, DE-MS, EGA-MS). She is author of more than 350 scientific papers (H-index 45), four books and has given more than 400 lectures (>100 invited) at National and International Congresses. She has been the principal investigator of several national and international research projects for the safeguard of Cultural Heritage. Recognized her authority in the field of Chemistry of Cultural Heritage, she is called as an expert for consulting and as a member of committees for the protection of several important works of art.