I was reading this: So You Want To Be a Psychedelic Researcher?

I am a psychologist... I talked with my university director about this and he said "sure, but you have to tell me what is it that you can do."


I suggested a few ideas. He said that he would think about it, but that he would only support scientific research.



What do you guys think about working as a psychedelic researcher (and also an activist) as a professional job in the psychological area?
Honestly, I feel like I have a nice opportunity and wouldn't like to ruin it... but I don't consider myself a "scientist".





Anyone has any suggestions?

I think it would be a fantastic job. It offers many possibilities.

There are professors who specialize in serotonin research. Their work showed that a polymorphism in the SERT gene causes hyperactive serotonin reuptake, among other discoveries.

The second could ruin the first if firstly you are not established as a serious researcher on the subject. You might find difficulty publishing results (publications is the currency in academia) or even being funded or taken seriously. Be prepared for lots of reading and lots of non-giggly research before you can pull a public "two thumbs up" for psychedelics.

I'm considering going back the university solely for this purpose and getting a second degree, this time in psychology or something related because this is currently the only research that really interests me... and I just can't imagine beign anything but a scientist so I'd say go for it. But if you want to be an activist at the same time you have to be clever about it to not ruin your reputation as a scientist... I'd talk to existing foundations and researches perhaps to get an idea what's already out there, possible collaborations and the ups and downs of the trade. Maps, Beckley Foundation, etc. should be places to go for advice IMO.

Sounds like you should read the link clouds provided/referenced

I think people may be missing something with regards to the loaded word "activist." Yes it may cause problems but:

Doblin is clearly a researcher/activist...Nichols is clearly a researcher/activist...Shulgin as well and many others. To my mind it's all in your approach and self-presentation.

By not considering yourself a scientist, you likely are one.

As for the psychological arena and psychedelic research, you should email Doblin and also look into his graduate thesis.

I find research boring. I'll go full on activist.

I have a degree in computer networking and a career in software development, where my first job was writing software for a very low complexity artificial intelligence, and that was my job for 3 years.

My hobbies have always included learning about human culture (anthropology), linguistics (and evolution of language), philosophy, education in general, and vague interests in psychology due to flat out not understanding people in general and a desire to.

Imagine my surprise when I found out about this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_science

I'll be going back to school for a BS in Cognitive Science specializing in artificial intelligence on paper, then move on to a PhD in Cognition. Paper, aritificial intelligence due to my software development background and work history. Ulterior motive is to move into psychedelic research.

If I live long enough for technology to get this far, think about this.

Imagine a sufficiently advanced artificial intelligence, that is capable of mimicking the human conciousness to a tee. It would be theoretically possible to invoke a psychedelic experience in this artificial intelligence in such a manner that it would also mimick the psychedelic experience a human would encounter.

Imagine what such a scenario would do for the research of psychedelics.

That is an ultimate goal for myself...

OK guys, i'm gonna be straight here. I'd be quite happy to do a job like that paid, or unpaid!

-Remember, there is NO MONEY in hyperspace!/ money can only buy earthly junk!

Quite the ephemeral aspiration, eh?

I can't be something that I'm not. And I am no scientist. I like science tho. It's just that... I think that my energy would be more useful as an activist and information spreader that as a researcher... I wouldn't last too long doing that.

In any case, I'm sure the MAPS link I provided could inspire one or two members of this forum.

Well, sure...but why is earthly stuff necessarily "junk"? Your body is an earthly thing..so are the trees, rivers, lakes and mountains..and the earth itself. The "material" plane is not going away and there is nothing junky about it. If it were not for material things like fruits and vegetables you wouldnt even be here..

Money can also do lots of good things if people put it towards those sort of causes..money is not bad..money is nothing anything other than paper symbols. People make choices paper does not. It is the same with hyperspace..people enter it to heal or otherwise. I just dont see the difference really or the relevance of the idea that hyperspace is better than the earthly plane. It is all connected at a holistic level.

After all... DMT crystals are material objects.