Dr. Matthew McDonald is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and the Director of Study Abroad at Milligan University, where he teaches general chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, and inorganic chemistry.

Dr. McDonald’s research interests include spectroscopic characteristics of nanomaterials and single protein optical microscopy. He has authored six peer-viewed publications, one book chapter, and co-authored numerous papers. At Milligan, he mentors research organized around the central principle of “survivalist chemistry” which seeks to answer the question “can I use my knowledge of chemistry to facilitate, or even enhance, my chances of survival in a dire situation?”

Prior to joining Milligan’s faculty, Dr. McDonald worked in the Nano-Optics division of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light as a postdoctoral research fellow. There, he used an interferometric imaging technique to collect real-time videos of single protein molecules as they were secreted by human white blood cells.

Education:
BA, Chemistry, Franciscan University
PhD, Chemistry, The University of Notre Dame