Dr. André McDonald has a knack for turning ideas into impact.

Innately curious from an early age, a lifelong learner and collaborative by nature, Dr. McDonald believes the best breakthroughs happen when researchers and innovators ask bold questions about solving real-world challenges.

Over the course of his 20-year career, Dr. McDonald has built teams, bringing together people to make things happen. He is known for his generosity and ability to see possibilities where others see obstacles.

As vice-president (research and innovation), Dr. McDonald champions research excellence across all disciplines, strengthening the pathway from discovery to impact and accelerating innovation across the university.

His appointment is effective Oct. 19, 2026.

You can follow Dr. McDonald on LinkedIn.

In addition to serving as vice-president (research and innovation), Dr. McDonald is a professor in Memorial’s Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

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Biography

Recognized nationally and internationally for his leading-edge scholarship, Dr. McDonald specializes in the fabrication, development and performance assessment of thermal- and cold-sprayed additive manufactured coatings, where he has trained more than 100 learners.

His current research involves the development of multi-functional coatings that provide wear and erosion resistance, heating and structural health monitoring to a variety of structures.

Dr. McDonald has received numerous honours including the Jules Stachiewicz Medal from the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering for heat transfer and numerous fellow designations, including Fellow of ASM in the United States, Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the United Kingdom and Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. He holds professional engineer licenses in Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador; Alberta) and the United States (California) and is a registered chartered engineer in the United Kingdom.

Among his leadership contributions, Dr. McDonald is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Thermal Spray Technology.

As the immediate past associate vice president (strategic research initiatives and performance) at the University of Alberta, he visioned and drafted the first institutional strategic plan for research and innovation and led major research initiatives that resulted in the highest annual external research revenue in the history of the institution.

Dr. McDonald’s contributions to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are premised on creating substantive opportunities for marginalized or under-represented groups. He currently leads the national effort for the Experiential Learning in Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (ELITE) Program for Black Youth – an externally funded university-government-industry-community collaboration to support hands-on learning and work-integrated training of Black Youth in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and entrepreneurship.

Dr. McDonald obtained his PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto. He received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in engineering from City College of New York. He also obtained a bachelor of science degree in law from the School of Law, Northwestern California University.