Caitlin Hudac

Caitlin Hudac is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Carolina, affiliated with the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. She directs the Brain Research Across Development (B-RAD) Lab and co-leads the Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment Research Center. Her work focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD), using EEG/ERP, eye-tracking, and fMRI to study social brain development and genetic biomarkers. She emphasizes addressing health disparities through inclusive research methods, such as mobile EEG testing and community engagement.

Dr. Hudac holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2014) and postdoctoral training at the University of Washington. Her research spans genetic etiologies of ASD (e.g., GRIN2B, SCN2A, DYRK1A mutations), social attention dynamics, and neurobehavioral interventions. She has secured grants totaling over $14 million, including NIH R01 and R15 awards.

Her awards include the Theodore Tjossem Postdoctoral Award (2017) and recognition for DEI contributions. Her lab prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, with trainings on autism research equity and family-centered approaches. Key projects include the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study and Simons Foundation-funded biomarker initiatives.