James Ross Macdonald is a physicist, who was instrumental in building up the Central Research laboratories of Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...

 (TI).

Biography

He received a B.A. in physics from Williams College

Williams College

Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...

 and an S.B. and SM in E.E. from MIT in 1944 and 1947. Oxford

Oxford

The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...

 awarded him a D.Phil. in 1950 and a D.Sc. degree in 1967.

He joined Texas Instruments in 1953, where he served as Director of the Physics Research laboratory; Director of the Central Research laboratories; Vice President, Corporate Research and Engineering; and as Vice President, Corporate Research and Development.

While at TI, Macdonald published over 175 scientific and engineering papers.

Honors and awards

Macdonald is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences

United States National Academy of Sciences

The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...

 and the National Academy of Engineering

National Academy of Engineering

The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...

. In 1986 he received the George E. Pake Prize

George E. Pake Prize

The George E. Pake Prize is a prize that has been awarded annually by the American Physical Society since 1984. The recipients are chosen for "outstanding work by physicists combining original research accomplishments with leadership in the management of research or development in industry". The...

 of the American Physical Society

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...

. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...

,
was awarded the 1988 IEEE Edison Medal

IEEE Edison Medal

The Edison Medal is presented by the IEEE "for a career of meritorious achievement in electrical science, electrical engineering or the electrical arts." It is the oldest and most coveted medal in this field of engineering in the United States. The award consists of a gold medal, bronze replica,...

"For seminal contributions to solid state science and technology, and outstanding leadership as a research director."