Charles E. Woodward

Charles E. "Chick" Woodward is Full Professor of Astronomy in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota, and a core faculty member of the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics (MIfA). He serves as Program Director for the University of Minnesota–Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) / Steward Observatories partnership, Vice-Chair of the LBT Observatory Board of Directors, and Associate Director of the MLOF & OBO observatories. Additional affiliations include membership in the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory (LBTO) consortium.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, 1987
• M.A. in Physics, University of Rochester, 1982
• A.B. in Physics, Dartmouth College, 1980

Research Interests:
Woodward is an international authority on XUVOIR (X-ray–UV–Optical–IR) observational astrophysics. His work addresses the physics of interstellar and circumstellar dust grains, the energetic and chemical evolution of classical nova explosions, the life cycles of evolved stars, and the thermal and compositional behaviour of comets and small Solar-System bodies. A parallel strand of research involves telescope and instrumentation development, including leadership roles in Spitzer Space Telescope legacy science planning, SOFIA airborne observatory utilisation, and interferometric exoplanet surveys with the LBT Interferometer.

Recent Publication Themes (2010–2011):
Recent refereed works demonstrate a breadth of inquiry spanning high-redshift galaxy spectroscopy, detailed mid-infrared analyses of cometary fragments, chemical and dust evolution in novae, multi-epoch studies of supernova remnants, and large-scale infrared surveys of evolved stellar populations and asteroids.

Honours & Awards:

• National Science Foundation – White House Presidential Faculty Fellow
• National Science Foundation – Young Investigator Award
• Smithsonian Institution Faculty Fellow – Air & Space Museum
• Ford Foundation Minority Fellow
• Multiple University of Wyoming teaching awards (1992–1999)

Advising, Grants & Infrastructure:
Woodward currently mentors one post-doctoral researcher, two graduate students, and three undergraduates within the Minnesota Infrared Lab. Research is supported competitively by the NSF and NASA. The group operates a dedicated 30 TB data server and over 15 client workstations, maintained by an in-house systems administrator, for intensive data reduction and remote telescope control.

Labs, Teams & Facilities:
The Minnesota Infrared Lab serves as the primary research unit. Extensive access is provided to the Spitzer and SOFIA archives, the Large Binocular Telescope, Gemini Observatory, Steward Observatory facilities, and future James Webb Space Telescope programs. Woodward is also a member of the exoplanet-imaging LEECH collaboration using the LBT Interferometer.