Overview
Caitlin O'Brien (she/her/hers) is doctoral student in Astrophysics at Cornell University studying cosmology. She received her B.S. in Astronomy and Physics from The Ohio State University with a specialization in Science and Engineering in the Public Interest. As an undergraduate, she performed research in partnership with the University of Florida and University of Virginia on parameterizing splashback radius-mass relations of galaxy clusters using IllustrisTNG simulations.
In addition to her research, Caitlin is the Founder and Director of Solstice Outreach, a social enterprise that provides interactive STEM programming to underserved communities through portable planetarium shows. She is also a James A. Abrahamson Fellow with the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab and an Educational Outreach Subcommittee member of the ISS National Lab User Advisory Committee. In 2023, she was named a Brooke Owens Fellow, working as a space policy researcher with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC.
Caitlin is the Assistant Director of SciAccess, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing disability inclusion in STEM. As part of this work, she serves as the Director of Development for the AstroAccess program, which applies universal design principles to space architecture toward the future of human space exploration. In 2024, she received the NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize for her work with SciAccess.
In her free time, Caitlin is an avid photographer, violinist, and competitive ballroom dancer.