Dr. Davis is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education in the College of Social Work at the Ohio State University. Their research involves the exploration of psychedelic substance use in community, ceremonial/spiritual, and clinical settings. They conduct clinical trials examining the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy for treating depression, fibromyalgia, co-occurring depression and alcohol misuse, and PTSD. They also facilitate educational programming about psychedelic science for students, communities, and clinicians. They have published more than 90 scientific articles on topics from substance use/misuse, harm reduction and benefit enhancement, as well as several studies of the clinical use of psychedelics for mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

Dr. Armstrong is the Center’s Associate Director and Senior Researcher in the College of Social Work. She earned her Ph.D. in psychology at Bowling Green State University after completing a clinical internship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. Her clinical fellowship at the Traumatic Stress Center in Akron, OH, emphasized the utilization of evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans and civilians, including cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE). She also completed a research fellowship at The Ohio State University evaluating the safety and efficacy of psilocybin, a novel investigational psychedelic drug, in treating treatment-resistant PTSD among US military veterans.

In addition to her work with PTSD, Dr. Armstrong is also collaborating on a clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in treating depression among lung cancer patients. She is also investigating the patterns of use and acute subjective effects of psychoactive substances in clinical and non-clinical settings, measuring the attitudes and beliefs about psychedelic-assisted therapies among mental health professionals, and helping to develop a global registry for opioid use disorder patients who have sought psychedelic therapy in international locations to obtain real-world evidence on the safety and effectiveness of ibogaine as an addiction treatment. She has a particular interest in the subjective effects of psychedelics and their impact on treatment outcomes, as well as how psychedelic-assisted therapies might benefit populations currently excluded from clinical trials.

Adam Levin, MD is a psychiatrist and post-doctoral scholar at the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education (CPDRE). He completed his psychiatry residency at the Ohio State University and received his MD from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

At the CPDRE, Adam acts as medical monitor and therapist for clinical trials of psilocybin in veterans with PTSD and in cancer patients with depression. His general research interests include the use of psychedelics for individual and collective trauma, the neurobiological underpinnings of psychedelic action, and the broader implications of psychedelic medicine for medical education and practice.

Adam recently published a new theory of psychedelic action (called HEALS) which attempts to unify the common effects of psychedelics through the lens of their differential effects on the brain’s hemispheres. 

Dr. Acero is a Postdoctoral Scholar and Manager of Strategic Initiatives at the CPDRE. His research explores how psychedelic compounds may support recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI)—a condition currently lacking any pharmacological treatments, despite its prevalence and life-altering impact—with a particular focus on their neurological effects. He is currently writing a book on this emerging area, weaving together scientific insights with personal narratives of healing.

Victor is a Co-Founder and Affiliate Scholar at the Penn Psychedelics Collaborative (PPC), Co-Founder and Advisor for the Intercollegiate Psychedelics Network (IPN), and serves on the Board of Directors for the Source Research Foundation. Outside of his professional work, Victor enjoys exploring philosophy, science fiction, calisthenics, mentorship, and spending time with his pets.

Nathan leads data management efforts at the CPDRE. He is responsible for designing the center's data infrastructure and developing automated pipelines to analyze and harmonize data across a variety of psychedelic studies. Nathan has played a pivotal role in managing data for several clinical trials involving psychedelic substances, including the first randomized controlled trial investigating psilocybin's effects on major depressive disorder, as well as studies examining its impact on brain functioning, cognition, and well-being.

Beyond his work with psilocybin, he has conducted research on other psychedelic compounds such as 5-MeO-DMT, ibogaine, salvinorin-A, and ketamine. Nathan also serves as the Director of Data & Analytics at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research (CPCR), where he continues to advance the field through innovative data practices..

Hillary Shaub is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) with a supervision designation actively involved in providing clinical services, including psychedelic-assisted therapy, for clinical trials aimed at transforming mental health care through innovative treatments. She is also a graduate of OSU's College of Social Work, holding a bachelor's and a master's degree in social work. Throughout her career, Hillary has worked in various clinical settings, including private practice, correctional facilities, crisis intervention services, acute care hospitals, and hospice care. With over 15 years of clinical expertise, she is a passionate and experienced mental health professional.

Hillary is dedicated to reducing stigma and improving access to mental health and substance use treatments, particularly for vulnerable populations. Her practice is grounded in an ecological perspective, integrating diverse therapeutic modalities and fostering collaboration to help individuals navigate personal challenges while addressing broader societal barriers and systemic injustices.

Through her involvement in research, Hillary is interested in exploring how the use of harm-reduction strategies impacts the psychedelic experiences among users in controlled and uncontrolled settings. She is committed to advancing the field of psychedelics by developing safe, effective, and accessible therapies that can benefit a wide range of individuals.

Angela joined the CPDRE as a Clinical Research Coordinator after working in the non-profit sector for many years. A former US Army Intelligence Officer, Angela completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science from John Carroll University, a M.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern Mississippi and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) at The Ohio State University. Angela enjoys reading, running and the study and practice of Buddhism and Zen meditation.

Michelle Pham, MS is a clinical research coordinator at the CPDRE. She has held a true love for studying pharmacology ever since she was young with an emphasis on psychoactive substances, and this guided her journey in becoming passionate about psychedelics as a potential therapeutic. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry with minors in Music, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Substance Misuse and Addiction.

Michelle joined the CPDRE shortly after completing her Master’s in Translational Pharmacology with a specialization in Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Trial Design where she wrote her graduate manuscript on serotonergic psychedelics as a potential preventative measure for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) through improved management of chronic pain. Having been extensively and personally impacted by substance use disorders (SUDs), Michelle is driven by her devotion to improving upon the current states of addiction research, treatment, and prevention, especially in underserved and vulnerable populations.

As increasing data is published on how psychedelics may support SUD treatment, this has further steered and impassioned her research interests in this field. Outside of her main career, Michelle also works as a visual artist and enjoys spending her free time with her cat, Bourdain.

Taweh Hunter is an undergraduate research assistant for the CPDRE. He attended Columbia University and is currently pursuing his bachelor's degree in Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience. His passion lies in better comprehending the underlying neural mechanisms behind consciousness and the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic therapy. Following his undergraduate studies, he plans on pursuing a PhD with a focus on consciousness and psychedelic research.

Barbara is a social media strategist with expertise in digital storytelling and content creation for healthcare and lifestyle brands. She has led campaigns that helped medical practices and consumer brands grow their online presence from hundreds to tens of thousands of followers, with many pieces of content reaching audiences in the millions. At the CPDRE, Barbara applies this knowledge to amplify research and educational initiatives in the psychedelic space, helping to make complex topics more accessible and communicating emerging scientific insights in ways which inspire curiosity, foster trust, and support meaningful dialogue.

Barbara’s professional path is informed by an academic foundation in psychology and biomedical sciences. Barbara’s experience also extends into clinical settings, where she worked as a medical assistant and scribe in orthopedics. In those roles, she gained direct exposure to patient care, witnessing the importance of empathy, precision, and clear communication between providers and patients. This clinical insight continues to inform her work in social media strategy, particularly in translating research findings and medical knowledge into content which resonates with both specialized and general audiences.

Barbara earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, where she developed an interest in human behavior, communication, and the ways in which trust and expectation shape experiences. She is currently pursuing a Master of Biomedical Sciences, which expands her understanding of physiology, pharmacology, and biostatistics. goes here

Tina is a purpose-driven professional pursuing her Master of Social Work at The Ohio State University, where she also serves as Program Coordinator for the CPDRE. With over 20 years of leadership experience in the technology sector, including senior roles in customer success, professional services, and service delivery, Tina brings a unique blend of operational excellence, strategic insight, and human-centered leadership to her evolving path in social work and the exploration of psychedelics as a catalyst for transformation.

Her interest in psychedelic science and social work emerged from her experience as a suicide loss survivor. Motivated by this deeply personal journey, Tina holds an unwavering belief in the power of systems change to foster both personal and collective healing. She is committed to evidence-based practice, advocacy, and transdisciplinary collaboration to develop and support mental health interventions that aim to reduce suicide rates among adolescents and young adults.

Tina holds an MBA from Wake Forest University and a BBA in International Business from The University of Texas at Austin. She also graduated with honors from culinary school and spent several years in the restaurant industry before hanging up her chef’s coat to pursue her academic and professional ambitions.

Rafaelle Lancelotta, MS, LPC is a PhD student at The Ohio State University College of Social Work studying the importance of human relationship in psychedelic therapy interventions. They received their Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Wyoming and worked for several years as a somatic-focused, trauma-informed counselor who has supported clients use of cannabis and ketamine to enhance the therapeutic process. They are passionate about increasing accessibility and responsible clinical applications of psychedelics/entheogens for under-represented populations. Rafaelle aims to use their clinical skills combined with doctoral level research training to design, carry out, and integrate clinical research as part of diverse teams to influence changes in the mental healthcare system that can serve to improve mental health outcomes for people from all walks of life.

Rafaelle also serves as a Board Member for the Source Research Foundation, a non-profit grant organization geared towards supporting students and communities working on psychedelic-related projects.

Esenia Cassidy is a Graduate School Fellow at the CPDRE, where their work focuses on advancing research in clinical application of psychedelic compounds. In this role, Esenia actively contributes to the CPDRE’s mission of exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, particularly in relation to questions of gender, substance use, trauma, and harm reduction.

A PhD student in the College of Social Work at Ohio State, Esenia is a non-binary mental health academic and practitioner with a strong commitment to social justice and transtheoretical research. Beyond CPDRE, Esenia co-founded The Psychedelic Humanities Lab at The New School for Social Research with the goal of contributing to the interdisciplinary engagement between the sciences and the humanities. They hold a Master’s degree in Psychology with a Concentration in Substance Abuse Counseling from The New School for Social Research.

Skylar is a medical student at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) who is interested in pursuing a career in psychiatry with a focus on transgender mental health. They hold a master’s degree from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, where their research explored transgender psychedelic experiences through a qualitative lens. Their research interests include psychedelic science, transgender mental health, and gender-affirming care. Outside of their professional work, Skylar enjoys hiking, surfing, hosting dinners at their co-op, and performing in drag.

Matthew G.E. Meyer is a PhD candidate in the Environmental Science Graduate Program at The Ohio State University. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Whitman College, where he conducted his senior thesis research on the effects of Psilocybe cubensis extracts on various invertebrates and microorganisms.

Matthew's current research focuses on evolutionary chemical ecology, specifically the fungal production of psilocybin. In addition to research, Matthew also instructs the "Science of Fungi: Mycology" lab course. Prior to his graduate studies, Matthew worked as a Microscopy Specialist at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology and as a Research Consultant at Iridia, Inc. Along with his academic pursuits, Matthew is involved in community organizing.

Sara is a Clinical Psychology PhD student at The Ohio State University. Prior to starting her PhD program, she worked for three years at the Exploratory Therapeutics Laboratory at Stanford University / Palo Alto VA, where she led studies on psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD.

With over 9 years of research experience, she is passionate about contributing to emergent research on psychedelic-assisted therapies for mental health disorders. Specifically, she is interested in improving treatment outcomes of psychedelic-assisted therapies by examining their mechanisms of action, predictors of response, and considerations for implementation.

Sara graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, spending most of her free time over the last 10 years backpacking and hiking the Northern Californian mountains.

Ethan Kusiak is pursuing his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Ohio State University’s Clinical Psychology Training Program. He graduated from the University of South Florida with his Bachelor's of Science in Behavioral Healthcare.

Ethan’s previous research focused on understanding motivations related to substance use and treatment as well as developing a family-based intervention for parents with an opioid use disorder. His primary research interest is in exploring the potential of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of substance use disorders. In his free time, he enjoys snowboarding and bouldering.

Ruth is a current PhD student in Clinical Psychology at the Ohio State University. Her interest in psychedelic research began when while working as a research coordinator where she was given the opportunity to assist in the preparation of a psychedelic assisted therapy study.

Ruth is specifically interested in the potential role of psychedelics assisted therapy to address mental health concerns associated with cancer diagnosis and progression. She hopes to continue her involvement in research of psychedelic assisted therapies throughout her graduate studies an into her career.

Taylor Flatt, RN, PMHNP, is a first year PhD fellow in the OSU College of Nursing, where her research focus is on the experiences of children, parents, and families with psychedelics in various contexts. She graduated with her BSN from the University of Virginia and MSN from the University of Pennsylvania.

Taylor has worked as a nurse and psychiatric nurse practitioner in pediatric psychiatry since 2017 at Johns Hopkins and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is a co-founder and Director of Community Engagement for the Penn Psychedelics Collaborative at the University of Pennsylvania. She is passionate about creative, transdisciplinary, intergenerational collaboration to broaden our understanding of science and society.

Taylor also enjoys photography, watercolor painting, playing the alto saxophone, and spending time outdoors with her dog, Rosie.

Peter is a medical student at The Ohio State College of Medicine. He plans to go into psychiatry and is passionate about the responsible development of psychedelics as a mental health treatment option.

Peter has personal experience with Zen meditation, several years of clinical work in the mental health field, and experience writing scientific articles on emotion regulation strategies, cannabis and interpersonal violence, and psychedelics and depression.

Peter enjoys dance, meditation, weightlifting, and - above all - simple time spent with loved ones.

Aidan is a passionate undergraduate social work student at The Ohio State University with a strong background in healthcare and a commitment to social justice. Formerly an Army medic and nursing student, he shifted to social work to address systemic mental health issues, particularly for veterans.

His professional interests include clinical research in psychedelic medicine, policy advocacy for justice-involved veterans, and creating equitable mental health solutions.

Recently elected as Media and Networking Secretary for the Student Veterans Association at OSU, Aidan oversees social media outreach and fosters collaboration with external organizations. With experience in emergency medicine, youth development, and military service, Aidan has developed strong communication and leadership skills and a focus on building connections that matter. He balances academic pursuits with community engagement, striving to promote resilience and equity. Long-term, he aims to combine clinical practice and policy reform to serve underserved populations effectively.

Bryce is a current master's student within the college of Social Work. He became aware of the developing field of psychedelics in the mental health space through a book recommended by a friend that left him incredibly intrigued. This feeling led Bryce to go back to school in order to find his own way to contribute to the growing movement.

Outside of my professional life, Bryce is an avid consumer of pretty much all forms of media ranging from films to books and anything in between. He also love taking advantage of the beautiful bike trails found around the Columbus area or heading over to Highbanks Metro Park for a nice evening run!

Dr. Slot is a Fungal Biologist in the Department of Plant Pathology at the Ohio State University. Dr. Slot conducts basic research in fungal evolutionary ecology, including the ecology and evolutionary genomics of psychedelic mushrooms. His lab has been central to early discoveries in the genetics of psilocybin production.

Dr. Slot is author on over 60 scientific articles and book chapters in the areas of mycology, genome evolution, and natural product research. As a formally trained science educator, he has developed courses, workshops, and curricula on the secondary, college, and graduate levels, including an interdisciplinary undergraduate Mycology Minor, and he contributes an ecological perspective to our core Psychedelic Studies courses.

Dr. Michael J. Broman is an Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University College of Social Work and a Faculty Affiliate of the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research & Education. His research is focused on systemic barriers and facilitators for substance use treatment and recovery, including policy that helps or hinders those processes. Dr. Broman’s dissertation research on college students in recovery supported a grant application to develop a collegiate recovery program at Wayne State University.

In addition to continuing his research on college students in recovery, Dr. Broman is teaming up with CPDRE to investigate how drug policy impacts the potential use of psilocybin, ketamine, and other substances in mental health treatment. Dr. Broman has published his research in multiple journals, including the Journal of Community Health, Substance Use & Misuse, Addiction Research & Theory, and the Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse. Before joining the OSU College of Social Work faculty, Dr. Borman earned his Ph.D. at the Wayne State University School of Social Work. His post-MSW practice experience was in the areas of substance use treatment for adults, and prevention for youth.

Dr. Wagener is a Professor and the Leonard J. Immke, Jr. and Charlotte L. Immke Chair in Cancer Research in the Department of Internal Medicine at OSU, and the Founding Director of the Center for Tobacco Research and co-leader of the Cancer Control Program at The OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center. A clinical psychologist by training, his research program focuses on addiction, cancer prevention, and tobacco regulatory science, with a specialized focus on evaluating the behavioral, pharmacological, and toxicological effects of cigarette and non-cigarette tobacco products (e.g., e-cigarettes, hookah, oral nicotine products, heated tobacco products).

His work has been extramurally funded since 2012, serving as the principal investigator or co-investigator on more than 30 NIH- and FDA-funded grants. Dr. Wagener is also committed to mentoring and training the next generation of addiction and cancer prevention researchers. He has mentored/co-mentored numerous student-led projects as well as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have gone on to prestigious psychology residencies, fellowships, and academic faculty positions. He has served as the primary mentor on seven NIH training awards, as well as a co-mentor on more than 20 others.

Dr. Xin is an Associate Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah and earned her PhD in Social Work at The Ohio State University. Her overarching research areas focus on four themes: substance use, harm reduction, trauma, and resilience. Specifically, her research focuses on understanding the complex interactions among the risk factor of trauma and the protective factor of resilience, utilizing a harm-reduction treatment approach (e.g., psychedelic-assisted therapies, non-abstinent treatment goals) for people with substance misuse behaviors and mental health issues.

Yitong is a Licensed Social Worker and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trained therapist in the state of Ohio. Yitong has practiced as a clinical social worker since 2016 in outpatient mental health settings.