James MacDonald

James MacDonald is a Professor of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Delaware (UD), affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. He has been on faculty since 1985 and holds roles as Associate Chair of the Department and Deputy Director of the Delaware Space Grant Consortium. His expertise lies in theoretical and computational stellar astrophysics, with a focus on magnetoconvection, Population III stars, and stellar magnetic fields. He earned his PhD from Cambridge University in 1979, followed by postdoctoral work at the Universities of Sussex, Illinois, and Arizona State University.

Research interests include the structure and evolution of stars, particularly low-mass main-sequence stars, brown dwarfs, and the impact of magnetic fields on stellar dynamics. His work explores Population III stars' role in cosmic re-ionization and their detectability via the James Webb Space Telescope. He authored Structure and Evolution of Single Stars: An Introduction (2015), a foundational textbook in astrophysics.

Recent publications emphasize magnetic effects on stellar radii, white dwarf cooling sequences, and magnetoconvective modeling of M dwarfs. His research bridges observational data and theoretical models, addressing topics like lithium abundance constraints and stellar pulsations. Grants and collaborations include studies of stellar magnetic fields and their implications for astrophysical processes.

Teaching includes courses on quantum mechanics and stellar evolution. His work contributes to understanding stellar lifecycles, from protostars to white dwarfs, with implications for cosmology and exoplanet habitability.