BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Celeste Yeates joined BYU–Hawaii as an Assistant Professor of Physics after stepping back into academia following several years devoted to full-time parenting. She earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her research focused on pulsating white dwarf stars—verifying theoretical predictions related to combination frequencies and harmonics. She holds a B.S. in Physics–Astronomy from Brigham Young University.
Her academic background includes observational research at major astronomical facilities such as the McDonald Observatory in Texas, the SOAR Telescope in Chile, and the KPNO in Arizona. She has co-authored peer-reviewed publications in the Astrophysical Journal and the American Astronomical Society, contributing to the understanding of variable white dwarfs.
Dr. Yeates has teaching experience from her time as a graduate student, where she taught both introductory and advanced astronomy labs at UNC and BYU. Her work as a teacher and mentor was recognized with awards such as the Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year and two North Carolina Space Grant Fellowships.
During her time away from formal academic roles, Dr. Yeates remained actively engaged in community service, youth education, and leadership through the Boy Scouts of America and her local congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is excited to bring her passion for teaching, deep commitment to student growth, and love of physics to the classroom at BYU–Hawaii.
EDUCATION
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Ph.D. Physics, 2000-2006
Thesis Title: Mode Identification from Combination Frequency Amplitudes in Pulsating White Dwarf Stars
Advisor: J. Christopher Clemens
Brigham Young University-Provo
Bachelor of Science, Physics-Astonomy, 2000
Thesis TItle: Observations of the eclipsing binary star XY UMa at the OPO
Advisor: Eric Hintz
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Sciences, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, 2025 - Present
Phys 105 College Physics I
Phys 106 College Physics II
Phys 155L Physics I Laboratory
Phys 156L Physics II Laboratory
Teaching Assistant
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Senior Astronomy Lab Course, 2003-2004
Freshman Astronomy Lab Course, 2000-2004
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University
Phys 127 Descriptive Astronomy, 1999-2000
Planetarium Instructor, 1999-2000
Phys 121 Introduction to Newtonian Mechanics, 1998-1999
Phys 122 Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism, 1998-1999
Phys 221 Introduction ot Waves, Optics, and Thermodynamics, 1998-1999
PUBLICATIONS
Yeates, C.M., 2006, Mode Identification from Combination Frequency Amplitudes in Pulsating White Dwarf Stars, PhD Thesis, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, AAT 3219080.
Yeates, C.M., Clemens, J.C., Thompson, S.E. & Mullally, F., 2005, Mode Identification with Combination Frequencies in ZZ Ceti Stars, ApJ, 635, 1239.
Chynoweth, K.M., Thompson, S., Mullally, F., & Yeates, C., 2004, Pulsating White Dwarf Star GD99, AAS, 205, 103.
Moran, J., Nysewander, M., Shella, K., Yeates, C., Rose, J., et al., 2002, GRB020305: optical observations, GRB Circular Network, 1264, 1.
Yeates, C.M., Hintz, E.G., Joner, M.D., & Schwendiman, L.R., 2000, Times of Minimum Light for XY Ursae Majoris, IBVS, 4943, 1.
AWARDS & HONORS
Royster Society of Fellows (2005-Present): University of North Carolina Graduate School
Linda Dykstra Science Dissertation Fellowship (2005-2006): University of North Carolina Graduate School
North Carolina Space Grant Fellowship (2003, 2004): North Carolina Space Grant Consortium
Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year (2003-2004): Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of North Carolina
Full tuition remission and stipend for graduate studies (2000-2005): Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of North Carolina
First place for Senior Thesis presentation (Spring 2000): Spring Research Conference; College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Brigham Young University
Astronomy Grant (1999-2000): Department of Physics & Astronomy, Brigham Young University
Airmen Memorial Scholarship (1996-1997): Airmen Memorial Foundation and Air Force Sergeants Association