Robert McDonald is a PhD Candidate at the Utrecht University School of Economics. His PhD thesis is titled Transformative Entrepreneurship Policy, building upon work related to Transformative Innovation Policy. Through his research, Robert examines the role of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems in enabling positive change within economies. His interest lies in enabling industry-level change within essential industries such as agrifood, and how these changes can improve labour outcomes and environmental sustainability. Robert is also interested in improving entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Global South, working within a consortium to develop the first African Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Index.

Utrecht School of Economics (U.S.E.)

Alongside his research, he has supervised BSc and MSc students during their thesis trajectory. Before his PhD, he worked as a Junior Lecturer at the economics school before starting his PhD. Robert has lectured on the programmes: Economics and Business Economics and Philosophy, Politics and Economics, alongside giving guest lectures as part of the Interdisciplinary Course Food 4 Health & Safety (F4HS). 

Centre for Complex Systems Studies (CCSS)

Robert's research interests are underscored by complexity theory. Before working as a researcher, Robert worked within the Centre for Complex System Studies. Robert currently works within the Young Complexity Researchers of Utrecht (YCRU) group, and has co-chaired the group in 2024-2025.