Overview

I am a Senior Lecturer and Psychedelic Researcher at the department of psychology. I am fascinated by the ways psychedelics modify consciousness from a biopsychosocial perspective. I have previously worked at the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, under the mentorship of Prof. Robin Carhart-Harris and Prof. David Nutt. I have been in the midst of a so-called psychedelic revolution, supporting the foundational work of a re-emerging research field.

My interdisciplinary research covers neuroscience, psychology, phenomenology, anthropology and conflict resolution, using a wide array of research methods such as fMRI, quantitative, qualitative, microphenomenology, ethnographic, and participatory research.

My main research interests are

• The communal and social use of psychedelics. I am interested in how psychedelics enhance connectedness, group bonding (communitas), sociality, and can serve as a social cure.
• The potential use of psychedelics for peacebuilding. I study ayahuasca groups of Israelis and Palestinians. In an ethnographic-phenomenological work, I described intense moments of group unity and identity dissolution; awe-inspiring moments of interfaith and intercultural connection and recognition through music and prayers; and visions of collective trauma and the trauma of the other. From a critical perspective, I argue that too strong of an emphasis on oneness and harmony can preserve the status quo of inequality towards Palestinians by silencing conflictual voices. However, sometimes revelatory events can reveal tensions related to inequality and injustice and motivate people towards changing the status-quo. I am currently working with a group of Palestinian and Israeli activists to create a psychedelic peacebuilding program, and we piloted several such retreats.
• The neural correlates of the psychedelic state. I am interested in the relation between the psychedelic experience and its neural correlates. Notably, I showed in fMRI how communication patterns increase between usually segregated networks – a result that many labs have replicated since my original publication.
• The role of the visual cortex in psychedelic imagery. I argue that a core feature of the psychedelic state is enhanced dialogical processes between the visual cortex and higher-level regions.
• The therapeutic potential of the psychedelic experience. I showed how different psychedelic experiences - such as peak/mystical experiences, emotional breakthroughs, and communitas – relate to long-term clinical changes.
• Phenomenology. As an enthusiast psychonaut, I am fascinated by the psychedelic experience. I have used micro-phenomenology to study the experience and developed several questionnaires to quantify it.  

For a list of my publications check my Google Scholar profile.

Career

2013-2023: Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London
                      MRes, PhD, Postdoc & Research Fellow
                      Mentored by Prof. Robin Carhart-Harris & Prof. David Nutt

 

Research group links

• Clinical