Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Clinical Psychedelic Science

Psychedelic Alpha; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Portland Institute for Psychedelic Science and Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center invite applications for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical psychedelic science starting September 2026. The role combines research with opportunities to develop an independent project and contribute to psychedelic therapy research.

Fellows will work with leading scientists, receive mentorship, and participate in trials evaluating MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted therapies, with

Qualifications

• Doctorate or equivalent degree within the last two years in clinical or counseling psychology, behavior change, clinical science, social psychology or related field.
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Data analytic skills.
• Kind disposition and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze data and write papers on psychological/behavioral processes of change in MDMA-AT and other psychedelics.
• Support ongoing clinical trials as study therapist, assessor, or project manager.
• Use statistical software to support analyses with consultants.
• Travel to national/international conferences to present findings; funding provided.
• Project management in support of ongoing projects.

Skills

Publication track record

Strong writing skills

Data analytic skills

Interpersonal and communication skills

Kind disposition

R programming

NIH grants writing

Education

Doctorate or equivalent in psychology/related field (within last 2 years)

Tools

R programming

Job description

The Portland Institute for Psychedelic Science and Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center are offering a two-year research fellowship in clinical psychedelic science to begin in September of 2026. This position will also involve working on multiple research projects in this area of science and the chance to develop an independent project in psychedelic science. The postdoc experience is flexible and depends upon their career goals in combination with the opportunities available at the institute.

We offer a supportive and cooperative workspace and mentoring. This opportunity opens doors to work with top-tier professionals in the field and to contribute to pioneering research in psychedelic science. As a key player on our team, you will actively participate in developing psychedelic therapy procedures and delve into evaluating their safety, effectiveness, and potential healing mechanisms as well as studying psychedelics more broadly.

Portland Psychotherapy also offers clinically-focused postdoctoral fellowships described here.

Example ongoing topics of investigation the postdoc could be involved in:

• We are planning our second clinical trial of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder and the postdoc will help write papers emerging from the first trial. The postdoc will have a chance to help us on this second trial during their tenure.
• We are about to start a trial of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for chronic pelvic pain, which may or may not be still ongoing when the postdoc starts.
• The postdoc can collaborate on projects with the Open Psychedelic Evaluation Nexus, a practice-based research network housed out of the Oregon Health & Sciences University that organizes data collection to evaluate psilocybin services in Oregon and Colorado. Dr. Luoma is a co-founder of that network.

Examples of other recent topics of study we have been involved in include:

• Difficulties with Psychedelic Integration
• Longitudinal outcomes from psilocybin retreats
• Touch in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
• Informed Consent to PAT
• A survey of the Oregon psilocybin facilitator workforce
• Longitudinal outcomes from psilocybin therapist training retreats and retreats for cancer survivors
• Daily survey study of maintenance factors for social anxiety disorder

About our philosophy and lab

Our lab utilizes contextual behavioral science and affective science to find new and more effective ways of alleviating psychological suffering and helping people live richer and fuller lives. To do this, we conduct both basic and applied research with the aim of helping the scientific community better describe, predict, and influence behavior with precision, scope, and depth. We also aim to create an environment that nurtures the personal and professional development of behavioral scientists.

Our lab is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our team and in our research so that our work reflects and serves the broadest spectrum of individuals and communities.

We utilize and support open science principles so that our work, along with that of our colleagues and the broader scientific community, can yield maximal benefit to the public and influence science to be more inclusive, equitable, and accountable. We believe science should be an altruistic act, where scientists give away their findings to the public.

In the psychedelic space, we focus on supporting the role of science in the development of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) and in particular, the integration of evidence-based practices into the practice of PAT. Our studies tend to focus strongly on understanding the psychological processes of change underlying how psychedelics work.

The candidate’s work will include:

1. Analyzing data and writing papers related to psychological and behavioral processes of change in MDMA-AT and other psychedelics.
2. Supporting other ongoing clinical trials through roles as study therapist, assessor, or project manager.
3. Using and learning statistical software to support analysis alongside statistical consultants
4. Traveling to national and international conferences to present on our findings and learn. Funding provided.
5. Project management in support of ongoing projects
6. Training in psychedelic-assisted therapy
7. Assisting in grant applications
8. The development of an independent project in psychedelic science

Team

The current research team consists of the scientists listed below, a research coordinator, and a research-focused postdoc. We also employee various study therapists, assessors, physicians, and other support staff as needed for our clinical trials.

Postdocs attend weekly team meetings as well as weekly individual meetings with a research mentor. Research staff are typically part of multiple projects teams that work collaboratively together to complete projects.

Jason Luoma, Ph.D.

is CEO and senior scientist at Portland Psychotherapy in Portland, OR and the Portland Institute for Psychedelic Science. His research focuses on shame, self-stigma, connection, self-transcendence, and the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and psychedelic assisted therapy. He has just completed being principal investigator on a clinical of MDMA-assisted therapy for social anxiety disorder that was one of the first trials of a psychedelic in the Pacific Northwest. He is a co-investigator on ongoing trials of other classic psychedelics and is part of the treatment development of ACT-informed PAT for other clinical trials. He is an internationally recognized trainer in ACT, former chair of the ACT training committee, and past president of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. He has over 80 publications including co-authoring two books: Learning Acceptance and Commitment TherapyandValues in Therapy: A Clinician's Guide to Helping Clients Explore Values, Increase Psychological Flexibility, and Live a More Meaningful Life. His work on shame and compassion can be read at www.actwithcompassion.com.

Brian Pilecki, Ph.D.

is a licensed psychologist and associate scientist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders (OCD, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder), trauma and PTSD, and matters related to the use of psychedelics. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and is a licensed psilocybin facilitator. He practices from an orientation based in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and also has extensive experience in the areas of mindfulness and meditation. He is an active researcher and has published on topics such as anxiety disorders, mindfulness, psychedelics, and the relationship between theory and practice in psychotherapy and is co-author of the book ACT-Informed Exposure for Anxiety: Creating Effective, Innovative, and Values-Based Exposures Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and is currently writing a book for professionals on psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Qualifications

The ideal candidates will have:

• Doctorate or equivalent degree within the last two years in clinical or counseling psychology, behavior change, clinical science, social psychology or related field
• A track record of peer-reviewed publication
• Strong writing skills
• Data analytic skills
• Excellent Interpersonal and communication skills
• A kind disposition

Desirable qualifications include:

• Experience working with blood-based biomarker and physiological data
• Coding skills (primarily in R or comparable)
• Experience writing NIH grants

Purpose of the Fellowship

The goal of the fellowship is to support people who are interested in a career in psychedelic science to help them transition to academic positions or soft money funded projects in academic medical centers or industry.

Clinical opportunities

The postdoctoral fellow typically spends between 25-35% of their time providing clinical services under supervision. They will receive training in providing psychedelic consultation and integration and may have the opportunity to be a therapist on a clinical trial involving a psychedelic. They will receive at least one hour/week of clinical supervision toward licensure over the two-year period, which should result in licensure in Oregon and which may also be adequate for licensure in other states. The postdoc could also have the opportunity to supervise practicum students.

There are many didactic opportunities built into the Fellowship. We run a weekly didactic series for trainees and new staff focused on honing therapeutic skills