Q&A: Meet Caitlin Cain, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

In this Q&A, Caitlin Cain shares insights into her research, her passion for mentoring the next generation of scientists, and the experiences that inspired her career in neuroscience.

Her work focuses on developing cutting-edge technologies to map the brain’s complex chemical landscape, with the goal of uncovering how neurochemistry influences behavior, neurological disease, and metabolic disorders. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Washington in 2024 and B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Forensic Science from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2019. 

Briefly describe your current research projects and interests.  

My lab operates at the intersection of bioanalytical chemistry and neuroscience to deepen our understanding in vivo neurochemistry. Our goal is to develop new multidimensional chromatography, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and chemometric data analysis strategies to profile dynamic chemical signaling events. A central effort in my lab is to construct an in vivo neurochemical atlas of the brain by systematically identifying and quantifying both known and unknown metabolites across distinct regions. Ultimately, we aim to leverage this atlas to correlate regional neurochemical variations with differences in behavior, neurological disease, and metabolic disorders. 

How does your research connect with the field of neuroscience?  

Despite its biological importance, vast regions of the living brain's chemical landscape remain unmapped. The brain harbors thousands of structurally diverse small molecules spanning wide concentration ranges, yet conventional instrumental methods capture only a fraction of this complexity. Developing new bioanalytical platforms to probe these chemical unknowns will enable new discoveries in neuroscience, bridging the gap between the genome, proteome, and brain function. 

Why did you decide to come to UVA?  

I chose to launch my independent research group at UVA because of its strong, university-wide investment in brain research and collaborative science across departments. The research community here is vibrant, world renowned, and exceptionally welcoming. Joining UVA also feels like a homecoming since I grew up in Virginia and regularly visited the Grounds for summer camps and football games. I absolutely love Charlottesville and having the Blue Ridge Mountains right in my backyard. 

What’s the best part about your job? 

Mentoring the next generation of scientists! There’s nothing more rewarding than making new discoveries together while watching students build their technical skills, confidence, and independence in the lab. 

What led you to a career in science and neuroscience? 

My career is driven by a lifelong curiosity about complex systems. Raised by a high school chemistry teacher, my mom sparked my initial fascination with science and the molecular world. That curiosity took on a personal dimension when my father suffered a traumatic brain injury during my childhood. Witnessing his recovery sparked an enduring drive to understand how the brain adapts, functions, and repairs itself at the molecular level. Today, those founding experiences fuel my lab’s mission to develop bioanalytical technologies that help us decode the neurochemistry driving neurological function, behavior, and disease. 

What advice do you have for trainees?  

Never stop asking questions. Unexpected results and failed experiments aren't dead ends; they're usually just telling you to ask a different, more interesting question. 

What’s something new that you’ve learned recently (at work or outside of work)?  

While visiting friends in Colorado, I discovered firsthand that a $2 Target pool float stands zero chance against river rapids. What was meant to be a lazy, one-mile float under the summer sun quickly morphed into a chaotic rescue effort for our deflating gear. Fortunately, we all made it to the end in one piece and full of laughter, having officially learned our lesson to rent proper heavy-duty tubes next time. 

 Where are you from originally?  

I’m from Gloucester, Virginia. It’s a small coastal town along the York River. I completed my undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. My academic path then took me across the country to the University of Washington for my Ph.D., followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan, before ultimately bringing me back home to Virginia. 

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?  

You will almost always find me outside! From spring through fall, I'm usually out hiking or on a long bike ride with my fiancé, but come winter, you're guaranteed to find us on the slopes skiing. 

What is a surefire way to make you laugh? 

My sense of humor is pretty simple: a good, niche meme will always get me.