2000年毕业于浙江大学害虫综合治理专业，获博士学位。2000.9～2002.6,在南开大学生物学博士后流动站工作。2007.1～2008.1在丹麦哥本哈根大学分子生物学系访问学习。

目前研究方向：
1）苏云金芽孢杆菌、蜡状芽孢杆菌、枯草芽孢杆菌等生防微生物的杀虫、抗病的分子机理及其相关基因的表达调控
2）昆虫病理学研究，包括寄生蜂调控寄主血细胞免疫机理；苏云金杆菌毒素作用靶标昆虫细胞的结合位点及其导致寄主细胞死亡的机理。

教学：
目前承担本科生课程：基础生命科学，发育生物学；承担研究生课程：分子微生物学。
参与翻译专著2部。

现为国家精品课《微生物发酵工程》课程组成员，教育部“科学素质教育系列公共课国家级教学团队”成员，校级精品课《基础生命科学》课程组主讲教师。

获“第十届天津市高校青年教师教学基本功竞赛”二等奖，“南开大学青年教师教学基本功竞赛”一等奖。指导本科生获南开大学本科生创新科研项目一等奖。2011年12月荣获南开大学第五届“良师益友”评选活动优秀导师.

科研:
主持国家自然科学基金、教育部出国留学人员科研启动基金、天津市自然科学基金等5项，参与国家、教育部、科技部、天津市科技攻关等项目5项。发表科研论文30余篇，其中SCI收录9篇。2010年获国家科技进步二等奖（排名第2），2003年获教育部提名国家自然科学奖二等奖（排名第4），获得发明专利2项。

代表论文：
1.Xiao Liang, Chuan Liu, Xie Chi-chu, Jun Cai* , Yue-hua Chen*. The direct repeat sequence upstream of Bacillus chitinase genes is cis-acting elements that negatively regulate heterologous expression in E. coli. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 2012,50:280-286.
2.Xie Chi-Chu, Yang Luo, Yue-Hua Chen*, Jun Cai. Construction of a Promoter-probe Vector for Bacillus thuringiensis: the Identification of cis-acting Elements of the chiA Locus. Current Microbiology, 2012,64(5):492-500.
3.Xueyong Zhou, Wei Qi, Jianbo Zhang, Tingting Zou , Guo Chen , Jun Cai*, and Xiang Huang .Spectroscopic nvestigation of the structure of protoxin protein isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis contacted with minerals. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 2010,20(8)841 – 852
4.Dong Liu, Jun Cai, Chi-chu Xie, Chuan Liu and Yue-hua Chen. Purification and partial characterization of a 36-kDa chitinase from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. colmeri, and its biocontrol potential. Enzyme and Microbial Technology. 2010,46:252–25646
5.Liang Xiao, Chi-chu Xie, Jun Cai, Zhi-Jie Lin and Yue-Hua Chen. Identification and Characterization of a Chitinase-Produced Bacillus Showing Significant Antifungal Activity. Current Microbiology. 2009 ,58(5):528-33 
6.Zhang, J. Cai, J. Deng, Y. Chen, Y. Ren, G.  Characterization of Melanin produced by a wild-type strain of Bacillus cereus. Frontiers of Biology in China, 2007. 2: 26～29
7.Jun Cai*, Liang Xiao, Bing Yan, Yinyue Deng, Yuehua Chen, Gaixin Ren.Vip3A is responsible for the potency of Bt9816C culture supernatant against Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera exigua. Journal of General and Applied Microbiology. 2006，52（2）83－89 
8.Zhong Zhang, Gong-yin Ye, Jun Cai, Cui Hu. Comparative venom toxicity between Pteromalus puparum and Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) toward the hemocytes of their natural hosts, non-target insects and cultured insect cells. Toxicon. 2005, 46(3):337-49
9.Jun Cai*, Rui-Bin Liu, Gai-Xin Ren. The toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis 9816C to Spodoptera exigua related to the binding sites on BBMV. Insect Science. 2005, 12:429-433
10.Jun Cai, Gong-yin Ye, Cui Hu.  Parasitization of Pieris rapae (Lepidopetera) by the pupal endoparisitoid Pteromalus puparum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), suppresses haemocyte encapsulation. Journal of Insect Physiology. 2004,50:315-322
11.Yuehua Chen, Yinyue Deng, Jinhong Wang, Jun Cai, Gaixin Ren. Characterization of melanin produced by a wild-type strain of Bacillus thuringiensis.  Journal of General and Applied Microbiology. 2004, 50: 183-188.