TEMPERA

TEMPERA is a Marie Skłodowska Curie European Training Network (ETN) aiming at providing international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary state-of-the-art doctoral training to prepare the next generation of specialists in mass spectrometry-based ancient protein residues analysis for biomolecular diagnostics and conservation of cultural heritage material.

Due to their chemical and mechanical properties, proteins have always represented the category of biomolecules most extensively exploited by humans to satisfy basic needs, including nutrition, clothing, sheltering and transportation. However, presently there are very few specialists that have been trained to analyse ancient proteins. The almost complete lack of training in the study of ancient proteins is one of the factors negatively affecting the growth of paleoproteomic investigation.

TEMPERA seeks to address this structural weakness in European applied research by creating a training environment that, for the first time, brings together in a network the laboratories which have, largely in isolation, developed the techniques upon which ancient protein analysis is built. The TEMPERA ETN aims at filling this advanced training gap, by establishing a new multidisciplinary training environment focused at preparing a cohort of specialists in analysis of ancient protein residues from cultural heritage materials.

• TEMPERA will provide international and intersectoral training for early stage researchers (ESRs) to read ancient protein sequences and interpret the recovered information. This will improve knowledge about production techniques and chemical preservation of cultural heritage materials, ultimately improving their safeguard and conservation.
• TEMPERA will also guide the ESRs to develop the advanced interdisciplinary knowledge required to achieve seamless integration of this innovative analytical approach with the established principles and practices of cultural heritage restoration and conservation.