Lab Members
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Jasper Smits, Professor and Director
Ph.D., University of Texas - Austin
Jasper Smits received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and completed his clinical internship at Harvard Medical School/ Massachusetts General Hospital. He was on the faculty in the Department of Psychology at Southern Methodist University for 9 years before joining the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin in 2013. The main objective of his research program is to improve the treatment of anxiety disorders and related problems. Jasper has published over 225 articles, book chapters, and books. He is a member of the Scientific Council for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Anxiety Disorders, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and Cognitive Therapy and Research.
Adam R. Cobb, Clinical Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Texas - Austin
Adam Cobb received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and completed his clinical internship at the Medical University of South Carolina and Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System Research Consortium (MUSC-DVA). He also completed a NIMH-funded T32 postdoctoral fellowship through the National Crime Victim’s Research and Treatment Center and Brain Stimulation Laboratory at MUSC-DVA, before joining the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin in 2021. He also presently serves on as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at MUSC. His program of research is dedicated to identifying biological, behavioral, affective, and cognitive risk and resilience factors for anxiety, fear, and stress-related disorders, and to enhance existing evidence-based treatments by delineating and targeting core mechanisms of therapeutic change, and through innovative augmentations, including various forms of neuromodulation, pharmacological adjuncts, and cognitive and behavioral strategies.
Gena Gorlin, Clinical Associate Professor and Supervisor
Ph.D., University of Virgina
Gena Gorlin completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Virginia, her clinical internship/residency at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and her postdoctoral fellowship at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD). She was on the faculty of the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University for 4 years before joining the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin as a Clinical Associate Professor in 2022. Her research and clinical interests center on the cognitive/motivational factors that fuel or undermine ambitious self-change, particularly in the context of emotional disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. In addition to her research, teaching, and supervision of graduate student trainees, she is herself a practicing psychologist and a coach for startup founders and other ambitious innovators. She also writes a popular Substack newsletter called Building the Builders and co-hosts a podcast titled The Founder’s Mindset and is gaining prominence as a public intellectual focused on inspiring and empowering the bold, honest work of self-betterment on as wide and diverse a scale as possible.
Ricahrd Brown, Research Professor
Ph.D., University of Oregon
Richard Brown received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Oregon and completed his clinical internship in clinical psychology at Brown Medical School. He was on the faculty of Rutgers University before returning to Brown where he spent 25 years on the faculty of Brown Medical School. He moved to the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. His research has been focused across a variety of areas, including the development of efficacious tobacco cessation treatments, including specialized treatments for smokers with psychiatric and substance use disorders, the efficacy of aerobic exercise in the treatment of tobacco and other substance dependence and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and intervention approaches to adult and adolescent alcohol and drug abuse. He is currently involved in developing digital and technology-based interventions. Rick has published over 190 articles, book chapters and books. He is a Fellow of the Society for Behavioral Medicine and of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. He is currently serving on the Editorial Board of Contemporary Clinical Trials.
Talya Leibowicz, Clinical Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Texas - Austin
Talya received her B.S. in Psychology from Yale University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. She completed her clinical internship at The Counseling and Mental Health Center at UT Austin, before joining the faculty as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology. Prior to graduate school, she worked on psychosocial support interventions for refugees and first responders globally. Her research interests lie in understanding risk factors and enhancing interventions for anxiety and PTSD. Talya is also a practicing psychologist and works with patients to foster resilience and well-being in the face of anxiety, trauma, and life transitions.
Abigail Winskowicz, Research Coordinator
B.A., Auburn University
Abby graduated from Auburn University in December of 2022 with a B.A. in Psychology. Prior to joining the Anxiety & Health Behaviors Lab, Abby worked as a Mental Health Associate at San Marcos Treatment Center, a residential psychiatric treatment center. She also spent time as a Research Assistant in the Juvenile Delinquency Lab at Auburn University. Abby currently works as a research coordinator for the Anxiety & Health Behaviors Lab in a study examining tobacco cessation in hospitalized psychiatric patients. Her research interests include trauma and substance use. Abby plans to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.
Grace Vogelzang McClure, Research Coordinator
B.S., Georgetown University
Grace graduated from Georgetown University in May 2019 with a B.S. in Healthcare Management & Policy. After graduating, she spent several years working in healthcare strategy and operations roles, including at McKinsey & Company and, most recently, Lyra Health, a mental health benefits company. Grace joined Anxiety and Health Behaviors Lab in July 2024 as a research coordinator supporting the Targeted Plasticity Therapy for the Treatment of PTSD study and the CO₂ Biomarker study. Her research interests include understanding the learning and emotional mechanisms that underlie PTSD and other anxiety disorders with the goal of developing more effective clinical interventions. She’s also interested in the intersection of these disorders with close relationships, particularly couples. Grace plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology
Marla I. Sarmiento, Research Coordinator
B.S., Texas A&M University
Marla I. Sarmiento (she/her) graduated from Texas A&M University in August 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Marla joined the AHB Lab in June of 2023 as a full-time project coordinator, working with the YMCAs of San Antonion, El Paso, and Arlington on a smoking cessation and anxiety study. Her main research interests include working with minority and under-resourced communities with mental health disparities such as anxiety, trauma, and depression. She is working towards gaining more experience within the field as she plans to apply to a PhD program in the future.
Sydney Thureen, Research Coordinator
B.S., Penn State University
Sydney graduated from Penn State University in December of 2022 with a B.S. in Biobehavioral Health and a minor in Psychology. Prior to joining the Anxiety & Health Behaviors Lab (AHBL), Sydney worked as a research assistant in the REPEAT Lab at Penn State where she assessed physiological and psychological stress responses during substance use episodes. Sydney joined the AHBL in July 2023 as a research coordinator and currently works on a project examining the efficacy of a 15-week exercise-based smoking cessation intervention in adults with high anxiety sensitivity. She is particularly interested in researching adolescent and young adult substance use as well as psychosocial determinants of health behaviors to establish feasible behavioral interventions. Sydney would like to strengthen her research skills before pursuing a PhD in health sciences or public health.
Tara M. Moore, Research Coordinator
B.A., University of Texas - Austin
Tara M. Moore, pronounced Tar-uh, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in May of 2022 with a B.A. in Psychology and English and a minor/certification in English Language Arts and Reading 7-12. After grauation, she briefly worked as a high school teacher before pivoting careers and joining the Anxiety and Health Behaviors lab as a research coordinator for the CO₂ Biomarker study. Additionally, she lends a hand to the Exposure Therapy Consortium and Mechanistic Behavioral Research Consortium as their website manager. Her main research interests include mood disorders and the micro and macro effects of racialized trauma in the African American community, with the hope of establishing more effective clinical interventions for minorities experiencing stress-related conditions and health disparities. She is currently gaining experience in the field to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.
Christy Dutcher, Fourth Year
M.A., M.Ed., University of Houston
Christy Dutcher received a B.A. in Psychology from St. Edward’s University and an M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of Houston. Christy worked as a clinical research coordinator for Dr. Anka Vujanovic at UTHealth Science Center before joining the Anxiety and Health Behaviors Lab as a research clinician and project coordinator. Her research interests include factors that influence therapeutic learning and treatment engagement, as well as developing novel interventions for anxiety disorders. Recently, Christy is has focused her attention on applying these research interests in perinatal populations, focusing specifically on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Leah McMahon, Fourth Year
B.S.A., University of Texas - Austin
Leah McMahon received her B.S.A. in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. After graduating, she worked with Dr. Robert Leeman, Dr. Megan McVay, Dr. Nichole Scaglione and Dr. Liana Hone within the Department of Health Education and Behavior at the University of Florida, focusing on developing digital health interventions for at-risk populations. Her research interests include identifying mechanisms that influence lasting symptom improvement in therapy for anxiety and related problems.
Bryan McSpadden, First Year
B.S., University of Texas - Austin
Bryan McSpadden received a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, and worked as a project coordinator for Dr. Jasper Smits at the the Anxiety and Health Behaviors Lab. His research interests include factors that influence therapeutic learning and treatment engagement, as well as developing novel interventions for anxiety disorders. Recently, Bryan has begun his first year in UT Austin’s Clinical Psychology program as Dr. Smits’ graduate student.
Caitlin Rinehart
Caitlin is a senior undergraduate student at The University of Texas at Austin pursuing a B.A. in Psychology, a certificate in Forensic Science, and minors in Sociology and the Philosophy of Law. She is an undergraduate research assistant with the CO2 Biomarker study. She has also volunteered for the Children’s Research Center and worked as an undergraduate teaching assistant for the University’s Clinical Psychology course. Caitlin hopes to gain more experience in clinical research, and is especially interested in child and adolescent clinical psychology, trauma and its effects on the body, and the relationship between physical and mental health. She plans to gain further research experience before pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology in the future.
Lila Peredo
Lila is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin working towards a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Social Work. Currently, she is a research assistant for the STEP-3 project. Her research interests lie in adolescent mental health, mindfulness, and the relationship between sleep and well being. Lila plans to pursue a M.S. in Applied Psychology beginning in Fall 2025.
Suhani Vasa
Suhani Vasa is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin. She is pursuing a B.S. in Honors in Advanced Human Development and Family Sciences with a Pre-Health Certificate. She is currently a research assistant in the Anxiety and Health Behaviors Lab working on the CO2 Biomarker study. Suhani’s research interests specifically lie in examining the influence of mental health on the body, as well as studying generalized anxiety disorders, such as OCD, in children and young adults. She is also interested in assessing various psychological treatments and their effectiveness on different mental health disorders. Through her experience in the lab, Suhani aims to expand her knowledge of clinical research and develop her patient-care skills. In addition to being a research assistant, she will begin working on her honors thesis next year. After graduating, she plans to pursue a Master's in Physician Assistant Studies , and work as a physician assistant in the mental health field.
Tabish Parsa
Tabish Parsa is a fourth-year Psychology Honors student with a Social and Behavioral Sciences minor at the University of Texas at Austin. He serves as a research assistant in the Anxiety and Health Behaviors lab for the STEP-3 project, which examines the efficacy and implementation of exercise-based smoking cessation treatment for adults with high anxiety sensitivity. His research interests lie in enhancing the existing evidence-based treatments for anxiety and stress-related disorders through innovative augmentation strategies, such as various neuromodulation techniques and cognitive and behavioral approaches. His honors thesis examines whether fear prediction error—posited as a critical component of therapeutic learning, mediates the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation augmented exposure therapy for pathological fears. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
Tessa Whitham
Tessa Whitham is a second-year Psychology major with a minor in Italian Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. After graduating, she plans to work in a post-baccalaureate research position and then pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Her main interests include the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and the impact/efficacy of CBT and other psychological treatments. Through her work as a research assistant for the CO2 Biomarker study in the Anxiety and Health Behaviors Lab, Tessa hopes to discover more about research practices and enhance skills necessary to conduct independent research in the future.
Trieu Tran
Trieu Tran is a second-year Psychology major with minors in Chinese and Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. After graduating, she plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Trieu is currently an undergraduate research assistant for the CO2 Biomarker Study at the Anxiety and Health Behaviors Lab (AHBL). Last year, she also volunteered at the Language Development Lab in the Children’s Research Center. Trieu’s research interests include anxiety disorders and mental health, the efficacy of CBT, and all the above in relation to racial and cultural backgrounds (especially within Asian communities). Joining AHBL, she hopes to look closer into what clinical research is like and gain more experience to aid future independent research.