Donald Melrose is Emeritus Professor of Physics (Theoretical) in the School of Physics at the University of Sydney. Born on 13 September 1940 in Hobart, Tasmania, he earned a B.Sc. (Hons.) from the University of Tasmania in 1962 as a Rhodes Scholar and a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford in 1965. His early career included research fellowships at the University of Sussex (1965-1966), Yeshiva University in New York (1966-1968), and the University of Maryland (1968-1969), followed by appointments as Lecturer and Reader at the Australian National University (1969-1978). Appointed Professor of Physics (Theoretical) at the University of Sydney in 1979, he served until 2015 and has been Emeritus Professor since October 2015. He was Head of the School of Physics from 2001 to 2002 and Director of the ARC Research Centre for Theoretical Astrophysics from 1991 to 1999.

Melrose specializes in plasma astrophysics, with research on coherent radio emission mechanisms, pulsars, solar flares, relativistic plasmas in astrophysical jets, and quantum electrodynamics in superstrong magnetic fields. Key publications include Plasma Astrophysics Volume I: Emission, Absorption and Transfer of Waves in Plasmas (1980), Plasma Astrophysics Volume II: Astrophysical Applications (1980), Instabilities in Space and Laboratory Plasmas (1986), Electromagnetic Processes in Dispersive Media (1991, with R.C. McPhedran), Plasma Astrophysics (Saas-Fee Advanced Course 24, 1994, with J.G. Kirk and E.R. Priest), Quantum Plasmadynamics: Unmagnetized Plasmas (2008), and Quantum Plasmadynamics: Magnetized Plasmas (2013). He has received major awards including the Pawsey Memorial Medal (1974), Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (1986), Walter Boas Medal (1986), Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal (1987), Harrie Massey Medal and Prize (1998), Centenary Medal (2002), Ellery Medal (2004), Moyal Medal (2013), and S. Chandrasekhar Prize (2016). Melrose has contributed to the field through leadership roles such as Chair of the National Committee for Astronomy (1980-1984), Chair of the Steering Committee for the Australia Telescope National Facility (1994-1997), President of IAU Commission 10 (2003-2006) and Division II (2006-2009), and editorial positions including Associate Editor of the Journal of Plasma Physics (1992-2006).

Professional Email: donald.melrose@sydney.edu.au