Dr. Alex Walton

Group Lead
Email: alex.walton@manchester.ac.uk

Alex got his MSci in Physics from Durham University (2005). He then went on to a PhD in Physics at the University of Leeds (2010) with Prof. Stephen Evans looking at the electrical characterisation of single nanowires.

After a postdoc in Leeds for a few years, he moved to a postdoc position with Assoc. Prof. Jeppe Lauritsen at Aarhus University in Denmark (2012). Here he learned about the joys of surface science and the horrors of beamtime. Three years later he landed an academic position as a Research Fellow at Manchester University – focusing on Near-Ambient Pressure XPS.

Postdocs

Dr. Norton West

Email: norton.west@manchester.ac.uk 

In 2017, Norton completed his Bachelor of Science and combined Masters of Nanotechnology degrees at La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia).Including a summer studentship at Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (BESSY II – Germany) in 2015.   Norton then continued his PhD studies at La Trobe University in conjunction with two year attachment at A*STAR (Singapore), where he worked within the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE). His PhD was focused on hierarchical self-assembly of beta-oligoamides through combinations of non-covalent interactions, mainly hydrogen bonding and metal coordination. He extensively used X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to characterize his surface coatings.  Joining the Walton group in Feb 2023, Norton will focus on working with Near-Ambient Pressure XPS.Outside of the lab, Norton enjoys being in nature and getting involved in the community, volunteering with Rotary International. 

Dr. James Counter

Email: james.counter@manchester.ac.uk

James specialises in the development of advanced spectroscopic techniques and sample environments for in situ studies of electrochemical and catalytic interfaces under realistic operating conditions.

He obtained his MChem degree from the University of Reading in 2021. During his undergraduate studies, he completed a year-long industrial placement at Ilika, where he characterised thin-film solid-state batteries. His Master’s research focused on the adsorption of siloxanes on mesoporous platinum films monitored using quartz crystal microbalances, with applications in gas sensing.

James completed his PhD at the University of Reading in 2025 in collaboration with Diamond Light Source and Johnson Matthey. His doctoral research centred on the development of a spectroelectrochemical cell and working electrode assembly for in situ soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) studies of iridium oxide oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts. This work enabled detailed investigation of catalyst surface chemistry and electronic structure under operational conditions.

As a PDRA in the Walton Group, James is developing novel sample environments that enable near-ambient pressure XPS measurements with conventional ultra-high vacuum XPS instruments. His research supports the advancement of in situ surface analysis methods for accelerating the discovery and optimisation of catalysts and energy materials for the net-zero transition.

Outside the laboratory, James is an active Scout leader and enjoys supporting his local community through the organisation of community and youth engagement events.

PhD STUDENTS

Eleanor Ender

PhD
Email: eleanor.ender@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

Eleanor attained her MChem degree from the University of Aberdeen in 2019. For her masters project she undertook a placement at the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour in France, where she looked at the bioimaging of trace metal distribution in seaweed cells using NanoSIMS. She then proceeded to work in industry for 3 years, specifically with high pressure systems designed to investigate organic scale formation in crude oil production.

Eleanor joined the Walton group as a PhD student in 2022. Her research will focus on correlative characterisation of electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and NanoSIMS.

Outside of her work, Eleanor enjoys trips to nature and cuddling animals of any kind.

Harry Taylor

PhD

Email: harry.taylor-7@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

Project Title: Transformative 2D oxide catalysts for green hydrogen production

Harry achieved his MPhys from Lancaster University (2022). He then joined the NOWNANO CDT at the University of Manchester where he undertook projects in bioimaging and the fabrication of magnetic nanowires. After the initial 6 months CDT training course, Harry started his PhD project in the Walton group studying 2D transition metal oxides for use as catalysts in the oxygen evolution reaction.  Outside of research, Harry is a keen lacrosse player, playing for the university team and is also into cricket, F1 and rugby. 

Mateusz Salamon

PhD

Email: mateusz.salamon-2@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

Mat graduated University of Aberdeen in 2020 with MChem degree, following a research placement at the Universidad de Alicante in Spain, where he investigated the oxidation of formic acid on single crystal platinum electrodes. After graduation, Mat spent four years in industry, primarily as an analytical chemist, specializing in ICP techniques across a variety of applications. Mat’s PhD research focuses on understanding Fischer-Tropsch catalysts using in-situ spectroscopy.

Outside of research, Mat enjoys climbing and spending time in the outdoors.

Zain Khan

PhD

Email: zain.khan-4@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

Zain graduated from the University of Leeds in 2025, having completed his BSc followed by an MChem degree there. His MChem project focused on studying the etching mechanisms of gold nanoparticles, using UV-Vis spectroscopy and mass spectrometry to study these nanoparticles. Zain then joined the Walton group in October 2025, having developed an interest in nanomaterials and characterisation techniques, he began researching the surface chemistry of cobalt oxide nanoparticles using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Outside of research, Zain enjoys hikes, the gym and making model trainsets.

Harriet Stoner

PhD

Email: harriet.stoner@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

Harriet graduated from the University of Bath with an MSci in Natural Sciences, which included a year studying at the University of Regensburg, Germany. In her masters project she used SAXS to investigate the self-assembly of lipid cubic phases. After a year out to travel and a brief dip into industry, she decided to return to academia.

Harriet started her PhD project in the Walton group in 2026, joining from the 2D materials of tomorrow CDT. Her research will focus on operando XPS of graphene-supported electrocatalysts.

In her spare time, Harriet enjoys ballroom dancing and traveling by train.

MASTER’S STUDENTS

Bingquan Wang – MSc student – Summer ’26

Alumni

Emma Smee – MChem student ’25-’26

Ziyu Fu – MSc students – Summer ’25

Anya Williams – MChem student ’24-’25

Isaac Murphy – MSc Student – Summer ’24

Fred Tinkamanyire – PhD student – 2019-2024

Kacper Polus – PhD student – 2019-2024

Kerry Hazeldine – Postdoc – 2023

Freya Buchan – MChem student – ’23-’24

Ziyue Su – MSc student – summer ’23

Khadisha Zahra – PhD student – 2017-2023

Scarlett Fender – MChem student – ’22-’23

Shiyan Xie – MSc student – summer ’22

Grace Derby – MChem student ’21-’22

Esme Phillips – MChem student ’21-’22

Zoë Henderson – Postdoc – 2019-2021

Conor Bryne – Postdoc – 2019-2021

Boruch Epstein – MChem student ’20-’21

Rose Picciuto – MChem student ’20-’21

Yidan (aka Emma) Zhang – MSc student – summer ’20

Maxim Barchenko – MChem student ’19-’20

Eleanor Banks – MChem student ’19-’20

Tim Smith – MChem student ’18-’19

Amelia Kent – MChem student ’18-’19

Almasa Pasalic – MChem student ’17-’18

Derek Lai – MChem student ’16-’17

Louisa Ting – MSc student – summer ’16