Multidisciplinary Association For Psychedelic Studies
- President
- Sep 1, 2022
- 3 min read

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The Psychedelic Society and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) have partnered to create a mentorship scheme open to early career researchers. The scheme aims to support and foster research on psychedelic substances. The partnership is part of an ongoing collaboration that began in 2016 with the creation of the joint Working Group on Challenges & Opportunities in Psychoactive Research.
What is the MAPS-Society Research Mentorship Scheme?
The MAPS-Society Research Mentorship Scheme is an interdisciplinary training programme open to early career researchers with a humanities or social science background. The scheme aims to support and foster research on psychedelic substances, including but not limited to, their therapeutic use, cultural impact and their role in society.
Why a psychedelic research mentorship scheme?
The Psychedelic Society and MAPS have a shared interest in the promotion of evidence-based psychedelic research, education on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances and their cultural impact. An evidence-based approach to psychedelic research is critical for informing future policy and regulatory frameworks for psychedelic substances, particularly in the UK. The partnership is part of an ongoing collaboration that began with the creation of the joint Working Group on Challenges & Opportunities in Psychoactive Research. This working group brings together researchers, students, policy makers and others in the field to discuss current challenges in the field and potential opportunities moving forward.
What will be the focus of the mentorship scheme?
The mentorship scheme will focus on providing researchers with the opportunity to engage in long-term research on psychedelic substances. Mentors in the scheme will provide research guidance, and help develop research plans and proposals. The mentorship scheme will also provide support with the associated administrative, logistical and procedural challenges faced when conducting long-term research on psychedelic substances. This includes, but is not limited to, grant applications, ethics approval, and data management.
How to apply for a placement?
To apply for a mentorship placement, you must be an early career researcher. Please see below for the application criteria. The mentorship scheme is open to researchers with a humanities or social science background. The application will consist of the following: - Short essay outlining the research topic you would like to work on - One page CV - Two recommendation letters. Recommendation letters can be from any individuals relevant to your application, such as, but not limited to: supervisors, professors, mentors, colleagues, etc.
Dates and deadlines
The mentorship scheme will run from early 2019 to July 2020. Worth noting: To allow for the wide range of academic calendars, the Mentorship Scheme has two application deadlines: - First deadline: 15 February 2019 - Second deadline: 10 July 2019
Who can apply?
Early career researchers with a humanities or social science background who are interested in psychedelic research are welcome to apply. The scheme is open to all fields of research, but priority will be given to topics related to the use and/or impact of psychedelic substances.
Where and with whom you’ll be working
Mentors will be drawn from both the Psychedelic Society and MAPS. The mentorship scheme will be open to both one-off and long-term placements. The placements can be formed with researchers at any level, from early to mid-career.
Benefits for interns
The mentorship scheme will provide researchers with the opportunity to engage in long-term research and gain hands-on experience working on psychedelic substances. Furthermore, the mentorship scheme will also provide researchers with career advancement opportunities by providing networking opportunities and an opportunity to be mentored by notable researchers in the field.
Conclusion
The partnership between the Psychedelic Society and MAPS aims to foster research on psychedelic substances and increase the availability of long-term mentorship opportunities in the field. If you are an early career researcher with a humanities or social science background, interested in psychedelic research and would like to apply, please contact Franziska Baros (Research & Communications Officer) at franziska@psychedelicsociety.org or visit the Psychedelic Society website
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