Charity Woodrum,
MSc
PhD Candidate
Charity is a Doctoral Candidate and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory working under the supervision of Professor Marcia Rieke. She is also a member of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) science team and the JADES collaboration. She earned a B.S. in Physics at the University of Oregon, where she conducted research with Dr. Scott Fisher and Dr. Inger Jørgensen.
Refereed Publications
Active Galactic Nuclei in the Green Valley at z~0.7
C. Woodrum, C.C. Williams, M. Rieke, K. Hainline et al. 2023, submitted to ApJ
Identification of High-Redshift Galaxy Overdensities in GOODS-N and GOODS-S
J. Helton, F. Sun, C. Woodrum, K. Hainline et al. 2023, submitted to ApJ [ADS] [arXiv]
JADES: Using NIRCam Photometry to Investigate the Dependence of Stellar Mass Inferences on the IMF in the Early Universe
C. Woodrum, M. Rieke, Z. Ji, et al., submitted to PNAS [ADS] [arXiv]
The JADES Origins Field: A New JWST Deep Field in the JADES Second NIRCam Data Release
D.J. Eisenstein, B.D. Johnson, incl. C. Woodrum, submitted to ApJS [ADS] [arXiv]
The JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey: Discovery of an Extreme Galaxy Overdensity at z=5.4 with JWST/NIRCam in GOODS-S
J. Helton, F. Sun, C. Woodrum, K. Hainline et al. 2023, accepted to ApJ [ADS] [arXiv]
JADES NIRSpec Initial Data Release for the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: Redshifts and Line Fluxes of Distant Galaxies from the Deepest JWST Cycle 1 NIRSpec Multi-Object Spectroscopy
A. Bunker, A. Cameron, incl. C. Woodrum, submitted to A&A [ADS] [arXiv]
JADES Initial Data Release for the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: Revealing the Faint Infrared Sky with Deep JWST NIRCam Imaging
M. Rieke, B. Robertson, incl. C. Woodrum, 2023, ApJS, 269, 16 [ADS] [arXiv]
Overview of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES)
D.J. Eisenstein, C. Willott, incl. C. Woodrum, submitted to ApJS [ADS] [arXiv]
Molecular Gas Reservoirs in Massive Quiescent Galaxies at z~0.7 Linked to Late-time Star Formation
C. Woodrum, C.C. Williams, M. Rieke, J. Leja et al. 2022, ApJ, 940, 39 [ADS] [arXiv]
ALMA Measures Rapidly Depleted Molecular Gas Reservoirs in Massive Quiescent Galaxies at z~1.5
C.C. Williams, J. Spilker, K. Whitaker, R. Dave, C. Woodrum, et al. 2021, ApJ, 908, 54 [ADS] [arXiv]
The Gemini/HST Galaxy Cluster Project: Stellar Populations in the Low Redshift Reference Cluster Galaxies
I. Jørgensen, K. Chiboucas, K. Webb, C. Woodrum, AJ, 156, 224 [ADS] [arXiv]
The Evolution of Bulge-dominated Field Galaxies from z~1 to the Present
C. Woodrum, I. Jørgensen, R. S. Fisher, et al. 2017, ApJ, 847, 20 [ADS] [arXiv]
Education
2018-present
University of Arizona
Ph.D. in Astronomy & Astrophysics
2018-2021
University of Arizona
M.S. in Astronomy & Astrophysics
2014-2018
University of Oregon
B.S. in Physics
2006-2009
Umpqua Community College
A.A.S. in Nursing (RN)
Research Interests
Extragalactic astronomy
Galaxy formation and evolution
Galaxy quenching
The field of galaxy evolution seeks to understand how galaxies form and evolve across cosmic time. Some of the most fundamental questions remain unknown, for example, how do star-forming galaxies grow in stellar mass? And why do quiescent galaxies stop forming stars (quench)? Charity's research investigates what drives this stellar mass growth and galaxy quenching. To do so, she uses the observations of galaxies, with both ground-based and space-based telescopes, to study their star formation and chemical enrichment histories.
About the Film
Space, Hope and Charity is an award-winning, independent documentary film by Sandy Cummings. The film follows the journey of Charity, who overcomes poverty and then tragedy while chasing her dream of becoming an astrophysicist. After losing everything, Charity gets her life and her dream back on track with help from childhood friends, mentors, and complete strangers. The film is a story of love and loss, and of finding purpose and joy again after devastating tragedy.
Woven through the film are themes of women in STEM, barriers to education, the importance of mentorship, and the lifesaving power of human connection.
Recent and Upcoming Events
The documentary is currently on tour at various film festivals and screenings, for which Charity is in attendance for Q&A sessions afterwards. Screenings are considered upon request on the film's website. The film is also available with the educational distributor Collective Eye.
Maui Ocean Center - Wailuku, HI, February 10, 2024
Kahilu Theatre - Waimea, HI, February 9, 2024
Hilo Palace Theater - Hilo, HI, February 7, 2024
Frozen River Film Festival - Winona, MN, February 7, 2024
SaddleBrooke Skygazers - Tucson, AZ, December 10, 2023
Carlton Observatory Holiday Gala - Portland, OR, December 8, 2023
Linfield University Science Symposium - Portland, OR, December 7, 2023
St. Louis International Film Festival - St. Louis, MO, November 14, 2023
Ojai Film Festival - Ojai, CA, November 4, 2023
BendFilm Festival - Bend, OR, October 15, 2023
Klamath Independent Film Festival - Klamath Falls, OR, September 23, 2023
Prescott Film Festival - Prescott, AZ, September 22, 2023
Seattle Astronomical Society - Seattle, Washington, September 20, 2023
Heising-Simons Foundation 51 Pegasi b Summit - Cavallo Point, CA, August 9, 2023
Heising-Simons Foundation Staff Retreat - Half Moon Bay, CA, July 24, 2023
High Desert Museum - Bend, OR, May 10, 2023
Touchmark - Bend, OR, May 10, 2023
Tin Pan Theater - Bend, OR, May 9, 2023
Whispering Winds - Bend, OR, May 8, 2023
Arizona International Film Festival - Tucson, AZ, April 23, April 24, 2023
Phoenix Film Festival - Phoenix, AZ, March 31, April 1, April 2, 2023
University of Oregon - Eugene, OR, March 7, 2023
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) - Portland, OR, March 3, 2023
American Astronomical Society Meeting 241 - Seattle, WA, January 9, 2023
Woody's Stars
After losing her son Woody, Charity dreamed of honoring him by offering financial support and mentorship to students in his name.
The Woody’s Stars Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation supports college students as they follow their own dreams of succeeding in STEM. This fund would not be possible without the support of Sandy Cummings (director of Space, Hope and Charity), Kathy Deggendorfer (founder of the Roundhouse Foundation), and Dr. Scott Fisher. Students will receive financial support and mentorship for all four years of their undergraduate degree.
You can be part of Woody's Stars by clicking "donate" below.
Selected Press
Selection of JWST Photos
Science Outreach
Charity is available to collaborate on educational projects. Below are a few examples of events where she has engaged with the public as a scientist. You can also request her as a NASA expert for community events through NASA's Universe of Learning at this link.
Keynote speaker for Churchill High School's Women in Science Symposium
JWST Expert for many different events, including appearing LIVE on National TV
Tour Guide of the Night Sky at
For Fun
In her free time, Charity is currently earning her Private Pilot certificate. She is training with the Arizona Aerotech Flight School at Ryan Airfield in Piper aircrafts.
With the Piper Cherokee after first solo flight.
In the cockpit after first solo cross-country flight.
Contact Information
Department of Astronomy and
Steward Observatory
933 N Cherry Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85721
cwoodrum@arizona.edu