2023–
Research Scientist
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin
← Adam R. Cobb
Curriculum Vitae
Adam R. Cobb, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin
Research Associate, Stress, Trauma & Resilience Lab, San Francisco VA Medical Center
Adjunct Assistant Research Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina
Positions
2022–23
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin
2021–
Adjunct Assistant Research Professor
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, National Crime Victims Research & Treatment Center / Brain Stimulation Lab, Medical University of South Carolina
Education
2019
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology
University of Texas at Austin · Dissertation: tDCS-Augmented In Vivo Exposure for Pathological Fear · Advisors: Michael J. Telch, Francisco Gonzalez-Lima
2008
M.A., Clinical Psychology
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi · Summa Cum Laude
2005
B.A., Psychology & English
Howard Payne University · Cum Laude
Lic.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
State of Texas #39762 (2023–present)
Selected Grants & Fellowships
2023–25
Department of Defense (CDMRP)
RCT of Targeted Plasticity Therapy for PTSD · Project Site Director, Co-Investigator
2022–25
NIH / NIMH
CO₂ Reactivity as a Biomarker of Non-Response to Exposure-Based Therapy · Co-Investigator
2020–23
NIH / NIMH Loan Repayment Program — $100,000
HD-tDCS-Augmented Prolonged Exposure for Chronic PTSD · Principal Investigator
2021–22
VA HSR&D Pilot Grant — $20,000
Telehealth-Delivered Massed Imaginal Exposure for Veterans with PTSD · Principal Investigator
Selected Publications
- Cobb, A. R., McTeague, L. M., O'Connor, P., McSpadden, B., Johnson, D., Gonzalez-Lima, F., & Telch, M. J. (2025). Neuromodulation of heart rate and heart rate variability in a randomized controlled trial of tDCS-augmented in vivo exposure for specific fears. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 186, 104701. doi
- Cobb, A. R., Hughes, J. A., Han-Joo, L., & Telch, M. J. (2024). Childhood family cohesiveness prospectively moderates risk for warzone psychopathology among deployed U.S. soldiers. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. doi
- Smits, J. A. J., Monfils, M-H., Otto, M. W., Telch, M. J., … Cobb, A. R., … (2022). CO₂ reactivity as a biomarker of exposure-based therapy non-response: Study protocol. BMC Psychiatry, 22, 831. doi
- Cobb, A. R., Rubin, M., Amir, A., Stote, D. M., Lee, H., & Telch, M. J. (2021). Pre-deployment hippocampal volume and volume asymmetry predict subsequent war-zone stress-evoked PTSD symptoms in deployed soldiers. Psychological Medicine. doi
- Cobb, A. R., O'Connor, P., Zaizar, E., Caulfield, K., Gonzalez-Lima, F., & Telch, M. J. (2021). tDCS-augmented exposure therapy for specific fears: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 78, 102344. doi
- Josephs, R. A., Cobb, A. R., Lancaster, C., Lee, H., & Telch, M. J. (2017). Dual-hormone reactivity predicts downstream stress-evoked PTSD. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 78, 76–84. doi
- Zoellner, L., Telch, M. J., Foa, E., Farach, F., McLean, C. P., Bluett, E., Gallop, B., Cobb, A. R., & Gonzalez-Lima, F. (2017). Enhancing extinction learning in PTSD with brief daily imaginal exposure and methylene blue: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 78(7), e782–e789. doi
- Telch, M. J., Bruchey, A. K., Rosenfield, D., Cobb, A. R., Smits, J., Pahl, S., & Gonzalez-Lima, F. (2014). Effects of post-session methylene blue on fear extinction and contextual memory in adults with claustrophobia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 171, 1091–1098. doi
Software
2026
HPM Open Physio System (v1.0.0-beta)
Open-source psychophysiology platform · github.com/adamrcobb/Open-Psychophys
Selected Honors
2025
Best in Medicine Excellence Award
American Health Council
2022
Best Presentation by an Early Career Professional
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
2014–18
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
University of Texas at Austin
Service & Membership
Peer review for Biological Psychiatry, Journal of Anxiety Disorders, Psychophysiology, Journal of Traumatic Stress, Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Scientific Reports, and others.