Mark McDonald

Mark McDonald is a Research Fellow at Heriot-Watt University's Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences within the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences. His work integrates photonics with biomedical and industrial applications, focusing on optical sensing systems for surgical robotics and environmental monitoring.

His research centers on Biomedical Photonics and Optical Sensing Systems, developing fiber Bragg grating sensors for minimally invasive surgery, LIDAR technologies for long-range detection, and laser-manufactured microfluidic devices. Key projects include force-sensing surgical grippers, tissue palpation sensors, and spatial coherence filters for atmospheric sensing applications.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong specialization in translating optical engineering into medical diagnostics and remote sensing solutions, with consistent collaboration on surgical robotics (2023-2025) and LIDAR system optimization (2023-2024). His work bridges fundamental photonics research with practical implementations in healthcare and environmental monitoring.

Research activities are centered within Heriot-Watt's Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences, where he contributes to the university's UN Sustainable Development Goal initiatives in clean energy and industry innovation through photonics-based solutions.