Dr. Colin Macdonald

Associate Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Colin Macdonald. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Colin Macdonald is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of British Columbia. He obtained his Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University in 2008, where he conducted research under the guidance of Steve Ruuth. His academic journey also includes earning an M.Sc. from Simon Fraser University in 2003 and a B.Sc. from Acadia University in 2001. Before his appointment at UBC, he served as an Associate Professor at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford from 2014 to 2015 and held various teaching and research positions there from 2009 to 2014. His research interests focus on the Closest Point Method, time-stepping methods for partial differential equations (PDEs), and WENO spatial discretizations. Colin is passionate about mathematics and has made significant contributions to the field, including the development of new methods for PDEs and simulations, particularly in the context of forest fire behavior using level set methods. In addition to his research, he has a history of teaching various mathematics courses, reflecting his commitment to education and mentorship in the academic sphere.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Professor

2015-01-01 — Present

Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia • Vancouver, BC, Canada

Teaching and conducting research in the field of mathematics, focusing on numerical methods and computational mathematics.

University Lecturer

2009-01-01 — 2014-01-01

Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford • Oxford, UK

Taught undergraduate and graduate courses in mathematics.

Tutorial Fellow

2009-01-01 — 2015-01-01

Oriel College, University of Oxford • Oxford, UK

Provided academic guidance and support to students.

Postdoc

2008-01-01 — 2009-01-01

UCLA Mathematics Department • Los Angeles, CA, USA

Conducted research in computational mathematics.

Requirements for University of British Columbia

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.3
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:6.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:22
Writing
Required:21
Speaking
Required:21
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Philosophy or related field 3 credits in formal logic 6 credits at the upper level in history of philosophy 3 credits at the upper level in ethics or value theory 6 credits at the upper level in metaphysics, epistemology, or philosophy of science
Application Checklist
  • Online application form
  • Application fee
  • Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Writing sample (15-20 pages)
  • Statement of intent
  • Evidence of English language proficiency
Specialization Notes

Offers course-only and thesis routes. Focus areas include philosophy of science, mind, ethics, and Asian philosophy.