Dr. Woodward is Professor at the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics at the University of Minnesota, since 2005.  He served as Associate Professor from 2000-2004. Dr. Woodward also serves as Coordinator of the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory (LBTO) and is a Board Member of the American Institute of Physics (AIP) and is Chair of the AIP Membership committee. He has served as a NSF-White House Presidential Faculty Fellow, a Smithsonian Institution Faculty Fellow-Air & Space Museum and a Ford Foundation Minority Fellow. Dr. Woodward received the NSF-Young Investigator Award.  Woodward is a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and a Fellow of the African Science Institute.

Dr. Woodward is an international expert in XUVOIR ground, and space-based observational astrophysics, instrumentation development, and telescope construction, management, and operations. He also has significant experience in national space policy. Dr. Woodward’s primary research is on the physical properties of astrophysical grains in interstellar, circumstellar, and solar system environments, the physics of nova explosions and their chemical contributions to the interstellar medium, the physical characteristics of the circumstellar ejecta of evolved stars, evolved stellar population demographics, and the infrared activity of comet nuclei and small solar system bodies. He played a significant role in the programmatic development of NASA's Space Infrared Telescope Facility (Spitzer) legacy sciences opportunities, and has participated in mentoring programs to enhance diversity in the field of astrophysics. His research is supported by NSF and NASA.

Dr. Woodward currently serves as: Chair, SOFIA Users Group; Chair of the NASA Astrophysics Advisory Committee (APAC) and has previously served as: Vice-Chair, Large Binocular Telescope Corporation 2019-2014; Vice-President, The American Astronomical Society 2015-2018; Member, Astronomy Astrophysics Advisory Committee 2009-2012; Member, NAS Space Studies Board, 2007-2011; Councilor, American Astronomical Society, 2008-2011; Member, OIR Panel Ast2010 Decadal Committee, 2008-2010; Chair, International Gemini Observatory Board 2008-2010; Team Member, NASA Discovery (Planetary) Mission Selection Panel 2011-2012; and Member, NAS/NRC Committee on the Survey of Surveys 2014-2015.

Dr. Woodward earned his Ph.D. in physics and astronomy from the University of Rochester.