Chris Woodward

Chris Woodward is a Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Mathematics at Rutgers University (New Brunswick). He maintains an active research program in symplectic and algebraic geometry, Lie theory, gauge theory, and mathematical physics. Woodward serves as an associate editor for Selecta Mathematica and organizes the Rutgers symplectic seminar, which focuses on current developments in symplectic geometry.

Woodward's research primarily centers on symplectic geometry with particular emphasis on Floer theory, mirror symmetry, and connections to mathematical physics. His work bridges geometric analysis with algebraic structures, exploring deep connections between symplectic topology and quantum field theory. He has made significant contributions to understanding the mathematical structures underlying string theory through rigorous geometric frameworks, with recent work focusing on immersed Lagrangians, tropical geometry applications, and quantum cohomology.

Analysis of Woodward's recent publications reveals a cohesive research trajectory with increasing sophistication in handling complex geometric structures. His work consistently explores the connections between symplectic geometry, algebraic geometry, and mathematical physics, demonstrating how techniques from one field can solve problems in another. Recent papers show particular innovation in extending Floer theory to immersed settings and developing connections between tropical geometry and symplectic topology.

• Woodward has advised numerous graduate students who have secured positions at Stanford University, Pennsylvania State University, Yale University, and Columbia University
• His undergraduate research mentorship program has produced students who continued to top graduate programs
• He has mentored junior faculty members including Matt Leingang (now at NYU), Eduardo Gonzalez (now at University of Massachusetts Boston), and Yuhan Sun (now at Imperial College)

Woodward leads the Rutgers symplectic geometry research group and has organized significant workshops including the Recent Developments in Lagrangian Floer theory workshop at the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics (held in March 2022 after pandemic delay) and is co-organizing a workshop at Harvard's CMSA in Fall 2026 with Denis Auroux and Jonny Evans. His research group maintains strong connections with international symplectic geometry communities.