Alastair MacDonald

Dr Alastair MacDonald is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History within the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History at the University of Aberdeen. He is actively involved in research and teaching, with a strong focus on later medieval Scottish history, particularly Anglo-Scottish relations, warfare, and frontier societies. He is currently accepting PhD students and maintains an active research profile.

Research Interests:

• Anglo-Scottish relations in the later Middle Ages
• Military history of medieval Scotland
• War and society in the later Middle Ages
• Frontier societies and border nobility
• Espionage and intelligence in medieval diplomacy
• Scottish military leadership and soldierly experience

His recent publications explore themes such as guerrilla warfare, brutality in battle, courage and fear among soldiers, and the cultural dimensions of war. These works reflect a deep engagement with both military and social aspects of medieval conflict. Notably, his research combines traditional historiography with digital humanities, as seen in the Aberdeen Burgh Records Database.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• No formal scientific awards listed in available sources.

Advising and Grants:
Dr MacDonald is currently accepting PhD students in History and encourages prospective candidates to contact him to discuss research ideas. While specific grant funding is not detailed in the provided texts, his sustained publication record and involvement in collaborative digital projects suggest active research support. He has served as an editor for Northern Scotland (2014–2019) and provided expert commentary on the Wars of Independence, indicating recognition as a subject-matter expert.

Labs and Research Teams:
He was a key contributor to the Aberdeen Burgh Records Database, a collaborative digital history project involving multiple scholars at the University of Aberdeen. This reflects his engagement with interdisciplinary and team-based research in the digital humanities.