Carolyn MacDonald

Carolyn MacDonald is Professor and Director of the Center for X-ray Optics at the University at Albany's Physics Department. With over $4M in research funding from NIH, NASA, and breast cancer programs, her work revolutionizes medical and materials imaging through advanced x-ray technologies.

Research spans:

• X-ray phase imaging and microfocus therapy
• Polycapillary/crystal optics for monochromatic beams
• Gamma cameras for nuclear medicine
• Diffraction systems for crystallography

Her 100+ publications show consistent focus on translating x-ray optics to clinical applications, with recent advances in mesh-based phase imaging, nanoparticle-enhanced radiotherapy, and small-animal neuromodulation techniques. Major themes include dose optimization for ocular diseases and developing practical alternatives to synchrotron imaging.