Professor J. Douglas McDonald attended Rice University where he received his B.A. degree in 1966. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1971, at which time he joined the faculty at the University of Illinois. His research interests are in physical chemistry and chemical physics. The first observation of molecular quantum beats was made in his laboratory.

His current interest is the genetic genealogy of the Scandinavian (including Highland Scots) branch of Y chromosome Haplogroup R1a. He curates the phylogenetic tree of the descendants of the founder of the historic Clan Donald, Somerled, died 1168. Over 40,000 living men descend in pure male line from him.