REBECCA COX
Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University
312 Wilson Hall, 111 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
615-322-5522 • rebecca.cox.1@vanderbilt.edu
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Vanderbilt University – Nashville, TN
2014 - present
Hendrix College - Conway, AR
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, cum laude
Graduated with distinction
2009 - 2013
overall GPA: 3.82
major GPA: 4.0
RESEARCH INTERESTS
The role of sleep disturbance in the development, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Emotion and Anxiety Research Laboratory - Vanderbilt University, Fall 2013-Summer 2014
Research assistant to Dr. Bunmi Olatunji; assisted in coordinating and implementing research on
attentional biases and genetic factors associated with PTSD symptoms in trauma-exposed veterans;
responsibilities include editing IRB proposal, editing and preparing computer tasks using E-Prime
and Matlab, participant recruitment, screening potential participants, administering the MINI
International Neuropsychiatric Interview, administering computer tasks (Fear Learning Task and
Rapid Serial Presentation Task), and collecting saliva samples for DNA testing
Sleep Laboratory - Hendrix College, Summer 2012-Spring 2013
Research assistant to Dr. Jennifer Peszka; assisted in developing and implementing research on the
effects of frontal lobe inhibition due to sleep deprivation on mating decisions; designed eye-tracking
study to determine the effects of sleep deprivation on pornography viewing; researched and
purchased eye-tracking equipment; researched eye-tracking methodology; wrote HSRB proposal;
screened potential participants; was responsible for running participants on eye-tracking measure
during two 31-hour sleep deprivation studies; analyzed data in Fall 2012 and Spring 2013; presented
findings at the meetings of the Southwestern Psychological Association conference and the
Arkansas Symposium for Psychology Students in April 2013
Independent Research - Hendrix College, Summer 2012-Spring 2013
Designed study to determine the role of personality, depression, and anxiety factors in academic
doping; wrote HSRB proposal; designed survey using Survey Monkey; collected and analyzed
data in Spring 2013; presented findings at the Arkansas Symposium for Psychology Students in April
2013
Social Psychology Laboratory - Hendrix College, Spring 2011-Spring 2013
Discussed social psychology articles; assisted in planning priming and stereotype research; worked as
experimenter and confederate on one priming and one stereotype threat study under Dr. Leslie
Zorwick
Aging and Memory Laboratory - Hendrix College, Fall 2012-Spring 2013
Assisted in designing recruitment materials to create elderly participant pool from the Conway,
Arkansas community for participation in research on aging and memory conducted by Dr.
Ruthann Thomas
HONORS AND AWARDS
Margaret E. Fitch Award - Spring 2013
Highest departmental award for outstanding achievement in Psychology
Graduated with Distinction in Psychology - Spring 2013
Graduated with honors, Cum Laude - Spring 2013
Psi Chi member - Spring 2011-Present
Vice-President: Spring 2012-Spring 2013
Phi Alpha Theta member - Spring 2013-present
Hendrix College Academic Integrity Committee - Spring 2012-Spring 2013
Appointed by Student Senate to faculty and student committee to review cases of student plagiarism;
worked on revision of the Academic Integrity Policy to make consequences better reflect the degree
of the indiscretion and encourage faculty to report incidents
Dean’s List - Spring 2011
Hendrix Academic Scholarship - Fall 2009-Spring 2013
Scholarship awarded for academic accomplishments
Odyssey Distinction Scholarship - Fall 2009-Spring 2013
Scholarship awarded for accomplishments outside of the classroom
Hendrix College Award - Fall 2009-Spring 2013
Scholarship awarded for ACT performance
GRANTS
Vanderbilt Graduate School Travel Grant – Awarded $500 to travel to the 48th meeting of the Association of
Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies to present research on the role of self-disgust in the relationship
between shame and compensatory behaviors.
Hendrix Odyssey Travel Grant - Fall 2012
Awarded $1,000 to travel to the Southwestern Psychological Association conference in Fort Worth,
Texas to present research on how sleep deprivation affects sexual intent and commitment aversion
MANUSCRIPTS IN PROGRESS
Olatunji, B. O., Cox, R., & Kim., E. (in press). Self-disgust mediates the associations between shame
and symptoms of bulimia and OCD. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology .
Olatunji, B.O., Cox, R., Ebesutani, C., & Wall, D. Linking self-harm and response to inpatient
treatment for eating disorders: The mediating role of negative affect.
Peszka, J., Penner, J., Lenow, J., Heimann, C., Lennartson, A. Cox, R., Defrance, K., Murphy, S., &
Johns, C. The effects of sleep deprivation on perceptual processes involved in human mating decisions.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Kim, E., Cox, R., & Olatunji, B. (2014). Self-disgust uniquely mediates the association between
shame and psychopathological symptoms marked by compensatory behaviors. To be presented at the 2014
meeting of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies in Philadelphia, PA.
Cox, R., & Maxwell, T. (2013). The associations between academic doping and depression, anxiety,
and personality facets. Presented at the 2013 meeting of the Arkansas Symposium for Psychology Students in
Conway, AR.
Cox, R., Defrance, K., Penner, J., & Peszka, J. (2013). The effects of sleep deprivation on perception
of attractiveness. Presented at the 2013 meeting of the Arkansas Symposium for Psychology Students in
Conway, AR.
Cox, R., Defrance, K., Lennartson, A., Penner, J., & Peszka, J. (2013). The effects of sleep
deprivation on commitment aversion and sexual intent. Presented at the 2013 meeting of the Southwestern
Psychological Association in Fort Worth, TX.
Defrance, K., Cox, R., Lennartson, A., Peszka, J., & Penner, J. (2013). Do preferences for short- and
long-term relationships change with sleep deprivation? Presented at the 2013 meeting of the Southwestern
Psychological Association in Fort Worth, TX.
Lennartson, A., Defrance, K., Cox, R., Peszka, J., & Penner, J. (2013). Sleep deprivation’s influence
on the need for trustworthiness in sexual relationships. Presented at the 2013 meeting of the Southwestern
Psychological Association in Fort Worth, TX.
Peszka, J., Penner, J., Mastin, D.F., Lenow, J., Heimann, C., Lennartson, A., Cox, R., & Defrance, K.
(2013). The effects of sleep deprivation on perceptual processes involved in human mating
decisions. Presented at the 2013 meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (SLEEP) in
Baltimore, MD.
MEMBERSHIPS IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
Association for Psychological Sciences
American Psychological Association- Division 12
AD HOC REVIEWER
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
Behavior Therapy
Association for Psychological Science Student Research Award
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
Intern - Pathway Day Treatment, Spring 2013
Worked with adults with severe mental illness, primarily schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder;
taught classes on functional living skills and coping strategies, engaged clients in leisure activities,
and accompanied clients on community outings
EMPLOYMENT
Introduction to Psychology/Personality Departmental Assistant - Hendrix College, Fall 2012-Spring 2013
Selected by Dr. Timothy Maxwell to grade Introduction to Psychology and Personality exams and
quizzes, compile course evaluations, enter data, and perform any other necessary tasks
Departmental Assistant - Hendrix College, Spring 2012
Selected by entire department faculty to perform office duties, compile course evaluations, enter data,
and perform any necessary tasks under Dr. Jennifer Peszka
TRAINING
CITI: Human Subjects Protection Training in Behavioral Research
Vanderbilt University
Responsible Conduct of Research: National Science Foundation
Hendrix College
CPR certified
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
Trained to administer the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview
Trained to collect saliva samples for DNA testing
Trained to perform telephone screens
Experienced in writing and editing IRB proposals
Experienced with Microsoft Office and iWork programs
Familiar with SPSS
Experienced in E-Prime
Experienced in creating online research surveys using Survey Monkey and Redcap
Familiar with MediaLab
Experienced with operating Mirametrix eye tracking equipment and Ogama eye tracking software
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
Fall 2009: Introduction to Psychology
Spring 2010: Social Psychology
Fall 2010: Statistics
Spring 2011: Research Methods; Applied Psychology
May 2011: Sleep and Dreaming
Spring 2012: Personality; Behavioral Neuroscience; Sensation and Perception
Summer 2012: Lifespan Development
Fall 2012: Abnormal Psychology; Psychological Assessment
Spring 2013: Psychology Practicum; Stereotyping and Prejudice