The Cambridge XPS Summer School 2025 offers an in-depth introduction to X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), covering fundamental principles, instrumentation, data acquisition, and advanced spectral analysis. The programme combines taught sessions with hands-on workshops, allowing participants to apply XPS techniques in both research and industry settings.
Attendees will engage in group learning, professional communication, and networking opportunities, with dedicated sessions on troubleshooting and career development. The programme also focuses on enhancing scientific presentation and communication skills, equipping participants with the confidence to discuss and present their research effectively. In consultation with the Programme Manager, it may be possible for participants to characterise their own samples.
The summer school includes three nights of accommodation in a Cambridge college, along with all meals and refreshments. The event may also feature support from leading industry sponsors (to be confirmed), providing insights into the latest advancements in the field.
In-person |
This event is open to participants from all backgrounds—whether you are an established researcher, a practicing physicist, or simply have an interest in X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and wish to learn more.
We invite you to register online by 28 July 2025.
Standard Rate – £1,150
Student Rate – £550
A limited number of all-inclusive accommodation tickets are available at preferential rates for accommodation at Robinson College.
Please use the link below to access the registration portal.
All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.
If this is your first time using our system, you will need to create a new account. Please note that for each CORDE event, a separate account must be created, as login credentials are not shared across events.
Before proceeding, we encourage you to review our terms and conditions and Code of Behaviour.
If you are unable to attend, please notify us as soon as possible.
All cancellations must be made in writing. Full details can be found in our terms and conditions. Submission of a registration is regarded as a firm booking (subject to availability) and acceptance of these terms and conditions.
Participant’s absence at the conference is not the basis for refund of the Registration fee.
In order to ensure that it complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (“PCI DSS”) and for the protection of its members and others, the University will only accept credit and/or debit card payments online through STRIPE secure payment server.
If you are paying by BACS/Purchase order, an invoice will be attached to your registration confirmation. Our payment terms are strictly 30 days. Information on payment methods can be found via our website. We reserve the right to cancel any unpaid registrations. All payments must be received 31 March 2025.
| Time | Activity | Detail | Speaker Initials |
| 10:00 | Registration & Networking | ||
| 12:00 | Session 1 | Introduction (CORDE Academy & Royce) & Icebreaker (Grouping) | SG |
| 13:00 | Lunch | Ray Dolby Centre – Atrium | |
| 14:00 | Session 2 | XPS Theory & Introduction to CasaXPS (Line Shapes & Background) | MI |
| 15:00 | Session 3 | Sample preparation & Experiment set-up | DM |
| 15:50 | Tea Break | Ray Dolby Centre – Atrium | |
| 16:10 | Session 4 | Group Discussion & Lab Tour (Experiment Setup) | SG |
| 18:00 | Dinner | Robinson College* |
| Time | Activity | Detail | Speaker Initials |
| 09:00 | Session 5 | Practical Analysis (Wide Scans & Quantification with Depth Profiling Dataset) | AG |
| 10:00 | Session 6 | Practical Analysis (Narrow Scans & Charge Correction) | SG |
| 11:00 | Tea Break | Ray Dolby Centre – Atrium | |
| 11:20 | Session 7 | Themed Talk #1 – Carbon calibration | DM |
| 12:10 | Session 8 | Practical Analysis (Doublets Overview) | SG |
| 13:00 | Lunch | Ray Dolby Centre – Café | |
| 14:00 | Session 9 | Practical Analysis (Doublets Continued: Pd/Au/Pt/Ag) | MI |
| 15:00 | Session 10 | Themed Talk #2 – NAP-XPS & Data Analysis | LD |
| 16:00 | Tea Break | Ray Dolby Centre – Atrium | |
| 16:20 | Session 11 | Analysing Your Own Data | ALL |
| 17:30 | Free Evening | Visit Cambridge Town Centre |
| Time | Activity | Detail | Speaker Initials |
| 09:00 | Session 12 | Practical Analysis (Asymmetric Line Shape) | AG |
| 10:00 | Session 13 | Themed Talk #3 – Depth Profiling | SG |
| 11:00 | Tea Break | Ray Dolby Centre – Café | |
| 11:20 | Session 14 | Practical Analysis (Multiplets) | MI |
| 12:10 | Session 15 | Themed Talk #4 – HAXPES (IMFP) | LD |
| 13:00 | Lunch | Ray Dolby Centre – Café | |
| 14:00 | Session 16 | Themed Talk #5 – Bad XPS in Literature | DM |
| 15:00 | Session 17 | Practical Analysis (NAP-XPS Related Data) | LD |
| 16:00 | Tea Break | Ray Dolby Centre – Café | |
| 16:20 | Session 18 | Analysing Your Own Data & Group Work for Final Presentations | ALL |
| 18:00 | Formal Conference Dinner | Robinson College* |
| Time | Activity | Detail | Speaker Initials |
| 09:00 | Session 19 | Practical Analysis (UPS & Auger) | MI |
| 10:00 | Session 20 | Group Presentations | ALL |
| 11:00 | Tea Break | Ray Dolby Centre – Atrium | |
| 11:30 | Session 21 | Themed Talk #6 – Sample Damaging | DM |
| 12:20 | Session 22 | Awards & Closing Remarks | SG |
| 13:00 | Lunch | Ray Dolby Centre – Atrium |
Monday, 4 August: A limited number of tickets are available for a three-course meal in the Garden Room.
Wednesday, 6 August: A limited number of tickets are available for a buffet-style meal in the Garden Restaurant.
If you wish to join us for breakfast or purchase additional tickets for any of these dinners, arrangements can be made subject to additional fee and availability. Please contact us for further details.
XPS Instrument Scientist
University of Cambridge
Dr Shaoliang Guan is the XPS Instrument Scientist at the CORDE facility, Cavendish Laboratory. He holds a PhD from Cardiff University and specialises in energy materials research using electrochemical and surface techniques such as XPS and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. His background combines applied chemistry and chemical enzymology.
Technical Director
HarwellXPS
Dr David Morgan has over 20 years of experience in XPS and XAS, focusing on precious metal catalysts, data analysis methods, and imaging. He is committed to advancing XPS practice and actively trains early-career researchers, with an emphasis on minimising errors in interpretation through rigorous multi-technique approaches.
Researcher & Experimental Officer
HarwellXPS
Dr Arthur Graf works across surface chemistry and spectroscopy, with a focus on XPS and XAS. His research spans heritage science—including ageing, corrosion, and mineralisation processes—as well as inorganic materials such as quantum dots and thermochromics. He is especially interested in applying spectroscopy to interdisciplinary materials challenges.
Researcher & Experimental Officer
HarwellXPS
Dr Mark Isaacs specialises in XPS analysis of nanocomposites and porous materials. With over a decade of experience, his research develops advanced ex- and in-situ XPS techniques to inform nanomaterial design. He began his XPS journey at Cardiff University and continues to explore how spectroscopy can unlock deeper insights into complex materials.
Technical Specialist (NAP-XPS)
University of Manchester
Dr Liam Dwyer is a Technical Specialist in the Surface Characterisation Platform at The University of Manchester. His work focuses on near-ambient pressure XPS for studying chemical changes under realistic conditions and supports materials research across the Royce Institute and the EPSRC National Research Facility for XPS.
Ray Dolby Centre – Cavendish Laboratory
J J Thomson Avenue
Cambridge
CB3 0US
Please note: Google Maps may direct you to the old Laboratory location. Once you turn onto J J Thomson Avenue, the venue will be the first building on your right.
Photo credit: Ray Dolby Centre, University of Cambridge – Bouygues UK
