Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate

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 Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate within previous five years (PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology). 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.