Jasper Smits, Ph.D. - Professor and Director
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.
Richard Brown, Ph.D. - Research Professor
Dr. 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.
Adam R. Cobb, Ph.D. - Clinical Assistant Professor
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 & 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.
Allison Biek
Research Assistant
Allison is currently an undergraduate Psychology Major at the University of Texas at Austin. She expects to graduate in December 2024 and has plans to attain a masters degree in Psychology. She is currently involved in the AHBL’s Exposure Therapy Biomarker study as a research assistant.
Bryan McSpadden, B.S.
Project Coordinator
Bryan graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in May of 2022 with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Prior to joining the Anxiety & Health Behaviors Lab, Bryan worked as a Research Assistant for the Mood Disorders Lab and as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for the University’s General Chemistry Program and Abnormal Psychology course. His research interests include the etiology and treatment of both unipolar depression and anxiety/anxiety related disorders. He is currently involved in the AHBL’s Exposure Therapy Biomarker study as a full-time Project Coordinator and plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology.
Christy Dutcher, M.A., M.Ed.
Fourth Year
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.
Gena Gorlin, Ph.D. - Clinical Associate Professor and Supervisor
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.
Emma Miller
Research Assistant
Emma is a fourth year Government student at the University of Texas at Austin on the pre-med track. She is planning on pursuing medical school, and has a strong interest in the psychiatric field. She is currently involved in the AHBL’s Exposure Therapy Biomarker study as a research assistant. She joined the team as a way to gain more exposure to the psych side of science, and has loved it ever since!
Isabella Holt
Research Assistant
Isabella is currently a third year at the University of Texas at Austin studying for a Psychology B.A. degree. She is planning to pursue a graduate degree and has a strong interest in specializing in anxiety. She is currently a research assisstant for AHBL’s Exposure Therapy Biomarker study. She joined the study to get more experience in a clinical lab setting and learn more firsthand knowledge about anxiety.
Scottie Hutchens
Research Assistant
Scottie is an undergraduate student in her fourth year at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is on track to graduate in May 2024 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in American Sign Language. After graduation she plans to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology. Currently, Scottie serves as Lead Undergraduate Research Assistant for the AHBL's Exposure Therapy Biomarker study.
Callaghan Ray
Research Assistant
Callaghan is a third year undergraduate student at The University of Texas at Austin and is pre-med earring a BBA in Finance with a minor in Healthcare Innovation and Reform. She is a Medical Assistant at Austin Contact Lens Institute and volunteers at Ascension Seton Medical Center. She is from The Woodlands,Texas and her hobbies include running, reading books and trying new restaurants around Austin.
Lauren Moak
Research Assistant
Lauren is a third year Psychology student at the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently involved in the AHBL’s Exposure Therapy Biomarker study as a research assistant. She joined the lab to gain valuable research experience and is planning on pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology, with a keen interest in anxiety disorders.
Evan Read
Research Assistant
Evan is a fourth year Neuroscience student at the University of Texas at Austin. He’s currently involved in the AHBL’s Exposure Therapy Biomarker study as a research assistant. He joined the lab to gain research experience and is planning on pursuing a doctorate in medicine.
Marla Sarmiento
Research Coordinator
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 and will be working with the YMCAs of Austin 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.
Abigail Winskowicz
Research Coordinator
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.
Sydney Thureen
Research Coordinator
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, 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 A&HB Lab in July 2023 as a research coordinator where she will be working on a study examining smoking cessation and anxiety. Her research interests include substance use as well as health behavior change & intervention. Sydney would like to strengthen her research skills before pursuing a PhD in developmental or clinical psychology.
Sheev Dave
Research Assistant
Sheev is a fourth year Biology and Healthcare Innovations student at the University of Texas at Austin. He is currently involved in the Nicotine Cessation STEP3 project as a research assistant in the AHB lab. He joined this lab due to his passion for mitigating nicotine addiction, as he has seen its effects through his experiences in clinics and hospitals. He wants to pursue a career in medicine as a physician, with interests in internal medicine.
Tara Moore
Research Coordinator
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. Tara received a diversity supplement through NIH and joined the Anxiety and Health Behaviors Lab in November of 2023 as a full-time research coordinator to assist with the Exposure Therapy Biomarker study, as well as a DOD study examining vagus nerve stimulation for participants with PTSD. Her main research interests include 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.
