Caitlin O'Brien (she/her/hers) is doctoral student in Astrophysics at Cornell University studying cosmology. She currently works with Dr. Rachel Bean to test gravity on the largest scales in the universe using data from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). 

Caitlin received her B.S. in Astronomy and Physics from The Ohio State University with a specialization in Science and Engineering in the Public Interest.

In addition to her research, Caitlin is the founder of Solstice Outreach, an organization that provides interactive STEM programming to underserved communities through portable planetarium shows. She has previously worked as a James A. Abrahamson Fellow with the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab and a Brooke Owens Fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. In 2024, Caitlin received the Space Tech Catalyst Prize from NASA for her leadership with SciAccess, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to STEM and applying universal design principles to space architecture for human space exploration.

In her free time, Caitlin is an avid photographer, violinist, and competitive ballroom dancer.