Joel McDonald

Joel McDonald is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in research and development within the coatings and materials sectors. Currently serving as the Director of R&D and Technical Service for Architectural and Industrial Coatings at Dow since January 2017, Joel leads the development of innovative products for the coatings markets across the Americas. Previously, Joel held key roles at Dow, including Global R&D Strategy Leader and Business R&D Strategy Leader, focusing on strategic initiatives for various consumer solutions. Joel’s career began at Dow Corning, where significant contributions were made in optical materials and electronics packaging, as well as in Li-ion battery solutions. Prior to industry roles, Joel demonstrated expertise in research at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Michigan, earning a Ph.D. in Applied Physics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics and Mathematics.