2024 GMiS Luminaries

Education:  PhD and Masters in Chemistry, University of Michigan; Bachelors in Chemistry, University of South Florida

Kyle McDonald, research scientist and technology scout at Dow.  In this role, he’s always on the hunt for technology breakthroughs and assessing potential new market opportunities wherever they might present themselves, whether he finds them across town or on the other side of the planet. As lead technology scout for the U.S. Gulf Coast region, Kyle has combined strong technical and business skills with an ability to network relationships with start-up entrepreneurs and investors who align with Dow’s portfolio priorities.  

Always humble in his approach, Kyle is keen to share the benefits of his extensive experience, making connections beyond North America to Europe and the Asia Pacific region. He leverages relationships with the region’s start-up and investor ecosystem to identify early-stage technologies that fall within Dow’s strategic priorities.  In this role, Kyle shines bringing his technical expertise, business acumen, passion for networking and connecting, and enthusiasm for a sustainable future. 

Originally joining Dow as a Research Scientist in the Performance Silicones Product Development group – a platform that was new to the business at the time – he quickly delivered significant contributions to the portfolio’s strategy and intellectual property.  Kyle now works between Core R&D and the Corporate Venturing arm of Dow to strategically identify new technologies and markets across the company, a pivotal role that helps plan the future direction for the entire enterprise. 

In addition to his technical work, Kyle is broadly recognized as a leader in DEI and a vibrant source of positivity.  He has been an active member of the organizing committee for the BEST Symposium over the last five years, and served as chair in 2022.  Since he joined Dow in 2017, Kyle has maintained a passion for DEI through active involvement in numerous employee resource groups and by serving in leadership positions for the BEST Symposium Organizing Committee. He also helped build Dow’s strong partnership with US-based Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutions.

Kyle has been recognized by awards highlighting his passion for technology, such as the American Chemical Society’s Outstanding Graduate Student Award for Research and Teaching, and the Albert Yee  Award for Best Poster in Polymer Science.  He is both a role model for young scientists and an inspiration for his peers.