Matthew McDonald’s research investigates how automation and machine learning can accelerate development of complex separation processes. Crystallization and analytical technology are areas of keen interest, but automation and ML find broad applicability to many of the problems Chemical and Biological Engineers are suited best to solve. At Drexel his research focuses on harnessing fine-tuned molecular interactions to overcome entropy in challenging separations, particularly in pharmaceuticals.
Matthew McDonald joined the department of Chemical and Biological Engineering as an assistant professor in September 2024. He received his BS in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University and PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Georgia Tech. After his PhD he worked with Klavs Jensen at MIT developing autonomous systems for chemical discovery and optimization.