Michael McDonald
he/him
Physics
Rooted in empathy, driven by dedication, guided by understanding
One of the most empathetic and caring people at MIT, Michael McDonald “has had a profound influence on the lives of those around him, making clear through his actions and words that he is fully committed to the well-being and success of his mentees and the entire MIT community.”
Michael McDonald is an Associate Professor of Physics at the MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. His research focuses on the evolution of galaxies and clusters of galaxies, and the role that environment plays in dictating this evolution. This research involves the discovery and study of the most distant assemblies of galaxies.
Empathetic and caring
A shining example of an empathetic and caring advisor, McDonald supports his students, fostering an environment where they can overcome challenges and grow with confidence. One of his students shares that “if one of his research or class students is progressing slowly or otherwise struggling, he treats them with respect, care and understanding, enabling them to maintain confidence and succeed.”
Professor McDonald also goes above and beyond in offering help and guidance, never expecting thanks, praise or commendation. A student expressed “he does not need to be asked to advocate for students experiencing personal or academic challenges. He does not need to be asked to improve graduate student education and well-being at MIT. He does not need to be asked to care for students who may otherwise be left behind.”
A mantra that describes McDonald’s advising style would be: “we’re humans first, scientists second”. He models his commitment to this idea, prioritizing balance for himself while also ensuring that his students feel happy and fulfilled. “If I’m not doing well, or am unhappy with my own work/life balance, then I’m not going to be a very good or understanding advisor,” McDonald says.
Dedicated and deeply understanding
Students are quick to identify Professor McDonald as a dedicated and deeply understanding teacher and mentor. “Mike was consistently engaging, humble, and kind, both bolstering our love of astrophysics and making us feel welcome and supported,” one advisee commended.
On top of weekly meetings, he conducts separate check-ins with his students on a semesterly basis to keep track not only of their accomplishments and progress toward their personal goals, but also to evaluate his own mentoring and identify areas of improvement.
McDonald “thinks deeply and often about the long-term trajectory of his advisees, how they will fit into the modern research landscape, and helps them to develop professional and personal support networks that will help them succeed and thrive.”
Projects should be so much fun that they do not feel like work. To this end, Prof. McDonald spends a lot of time developing and fleshing out a wide variety of research projects. When he takes on a new student, he presents them 5-10 possible projects that they could lead, and tries to find the one that is best matched to the student’s interests and abilities.
“This is a lot of work on my end — and many of these projects never see the light of day — but I think it leads to better outcomes and happier group members”, McDonald says. One of the most impactful qualities in a mentor and supervisor is how they deal with challenges and failures, those of their own and those of others, which McDonald does very effectively.
One nominator sums up Professor McDonald’s character, sharing that “Michael McDonald fully embodies the spirit of Committed to Caring as a teacher, advisor, counselor, and role model for the MIT community. He consistently impacts the lives of his students, mentees, and the physics community as a whole, encouraging us to be the best versions of ourselves while striving to be a better mentor, father, and friend.”
