Academic and Research Interests
For the past two decades Prof. Cobb's research group has developed forensic analytical techniques to assess contaminant presence and transport. Many of these techniques have been deployed to evaluate processes in organisms and environmental systems. Major research thrusts have involved coupling ultra-trace analytical methods with minimally invasive non-lethal monitoring techniques. This approach allows repeated measures during long term monitoring of organism exposure, which is a critical component of comprehensive risk assessments.

Most recently, Prof. Cobb's group has emphasized: nanomaterial alteration of amphibian and plant development; factors influencing proper function of industrial wastewater treatment facilities; interactions of toxicants and light to induce stress; airborne transport of steroids from concentrated animal feeding operations; explosives transformation in mammals; and ultra-trace measurement of acutely toxic volatile compounds.

Professor Cobb has published over 140 peer reviewed papers and maintains strong national and international collaborations through leadership positions in The American Chemical Society, The Society or Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.