About this Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate role at USC
Dr. Rael Cahn’s Meditation and Psychedelic Therapy Lab, within the USC Department of Psychiatry at the USC Brain and Creativity Institute, invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship embedded in the ARPA-H EVIDENT TA-1 EVIDENT-MAP / SENTINEL project — a clinical research program investigating the mechanisms and outcomes of psychedelic-assisted therapy and contemplative practice. The position sits at the intersection of clinical care, rigorous science, and integrative medicine.
Working directly under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, the fellow will serve as a trained therapist and co-facilitator in psilocybin-assisted therapy sessions, guiding participants through preparation, dosing, and integration phases within an IRB-approved protocol. The fellow will also co-facilitate mindfulness and meditation-based sessions informed by secular and classical contemplative traditions, and will be a full scientific partner contributing to study design, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and authorship of empirical and theoretical manuscripts. The successful candidate will be motivated, pro-active, resourceful, and detail-oriented, combining clinical warmth with intellectual rigor.
Essential job duties include, but are not limited to:
• Serve as trained therapist and co-facilitator in psilocybin-assisted therapy (preparation, dosing sessions, and integration) within an IRB-approved protocol.
• Teach and co-facilitate mindfulness and meditation-based sessions for study participants in individual and group settings.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis and contribute to study design.
• Collaborate with the PI to develop and document the meditation-assisted psychedelic therapy intervention protocol and ensure adherence across the therapy team.
• First- and co-author empirical and theoretical papers; contribute to grant writing and protocol development.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
Required Qualifications:
• Doctoral degree in clinical psychology (PhD or PsyD).
• Licensed or license-eligible as a clinical psychologist in the State of California.
• Familiarity with clinical trial methodology and statistical analysis.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Practices a high level of integrity and honesty in maintaining confidentiality.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Prior experience or strong interest in psychedelic research, mindfulness-based interventions, or consciousness science.
• Experience teaching meditative interventions across secular and classical contemplative traditions.
• Neuroimaging experience welcome but not required.
• A cooperative, team-oriented attitude and effective facilitation skills in various settings.
Follows established USC and department policies, procedures, objectives, performance improvement, attendance, safety, environmental, and infection control guidelines, including adherence to the workplace Code of Conduct and Compliance Plan.
This position is fully on-site; the employee must report to work at the USC Brain and Creativity Institute (Hedco Neuroscience Building), Los Angeles, CA. Work hours and on-site days may be subject to change depending on business needs.
[FOR EXEMPT] The annual budgeted salary for this position is $79,000. This is a temporary, fixed-term postdoctoral appointment (one year, renewable up to a maximum of five years) funded by the ARPA-H EVIDENT TA-1 award (EVIDENT-MAP).
Minimum Experience: 0–1 year.
Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related education in research specialization with advanced knowledge of equipment, procedures, and analysis methods. Licensed or license-eligible clinical psychologist in the State of California.
Preferred Field of Expertise: Publications in peer-reviewed journals in the same or related field; experience or strong interest in psychedelic research, mindfulness-based interventions, or consciousness science; familiarity with clinical trial methodology and statistical analysis; neuroimaging experience welcome but not required.
Skills – Other: Analysis; assessment/evaluation; written and oral communication; conceptualization and design; organization; planning; problem identification and resolution; project management; research; statistical analysis.
Supervises – Level: May oversee student, temporary and/or casual workers.
A copy of the doctoral diploma or other certification indicating the terminal degree has been completed is required. If the doctoral candidate has not yet obtained the degree, evidence that the thesis has been approved together with a documented expected graduation date should be provided. The faculty mentor is responsible for verifying this documentation, which is to be filed with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.
We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.
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