Advancing Surface Analysis: The Career and Contributions of Dr. John T. Grant

ABSTRACT Dr. John T. Grant is well‐known for his contributions to surface science, particularly to Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). His academic journey began in Australia, where he earned his degrees. He then worked in both the United States and the Netherlands where he engaged in both fundamental research and industrial development. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he helped advance AES, contributing to an atlas of Auger spectra of the elements and elucidating chemical effects on spectra. His collaborative efforts led to the establishment of the annual Symposium on Applied Surface Analysis in 1979, which provided a dedicated platform for applied research discussions. Long before it was recognized as important (in 1969), he formed and characterized graphene. Dr. Grant has received various honors. For example, he became an AVS Fellow in 1994, received the AVS Albert Nerken Award in 2000 for his pioneering work in AES, and was awarded the IUVSTA Prize in Technology in 2013. He co‐edited the well‐known book: “Surface Analysis by Auger and XPS”, which was published in 2003. He is committed to education. For many years, including well into retirement, he has volunteered in schools, taught short courses on surface analysis, and worked as a surface analysis consultant. This interview of Dr. Grant was conducted remotely on March 12, 2025 by the Linford group at BYU.