Our Pharmaceutical Psychoactive Investigations students explore the discovery, development, and clinical application of psychoactive drugs as therapeutic agents.
PPI MS Student Directory
Lindsay Amann
Credentials: BS
Lindsay is a Clinical Research Coordinator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York investigating non-pharmacological ways to address cognitive difficulties and insomnia. Lindsay is passionate about learning and excited to continue a career in research to understand how we may best explore the nature of the human experience utilizing different resources to help people feel their best, discover themselves, and feel connected.
Jesus Anchondo
Credentials: BA
Jesus is a Shop Foreman at Red Tail Wraps. In addition to developing the next generation of students by teaching to our future generations, Jesus intends to use his research to improve the lives of those who have suffered traumatic life events. Jesus’s hope is to start or join a mental health clinic in Texas to help veterans.
Elani Rae Barber
Credentials: BS
Elani is a Postproduction Operations Manager at Cannabis Nation Inc. She is interested in expanding her knowledge on the medicinal and therapeutic properties of psychoactive plant medicines and seeking out clinical research opportunities, or opportunities within a therapeutic setting, to engage in research firsthand. She is also passionate about spreading awareness of these potential health benefits and plan to seek out public speaking opportunities on the topic following graduation.
Lauren Blue
Credentials: PharmD
Lauren is currently a Pharmacist at Walgreens Pharmacy. Lauren’s professional goal is to be an integral part of the success of clinical trials that research the effects of psychedelic guided therapy, perhaps psilocybin, on people with treatment-resistant depression. Lauren wants to help bring this groundbreaking therapy to those people who need it the most. Lauren’s role may be in project management, the regulatory aspect, or an area of medicinal therapy is relatively novel and growing exponentially by the year!
Perry Boyd
Credentials: BS
Perry’s interests began years ago when she heard about psilocybin therapy as treatment for mental disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Perry is presently open to exploring any and all realms of psychedelic therapy, but would feel most fulfilled working within a clinical setting.
Emily Bussiere
Credentials: BS
Emily is a Program Director at Genentech. Emily has always known she wanted to focus her career on improving patient outcomes. She received her undergrad degree in biomedical engineering at Lehigh University, then spent most of her career working in Regulatory Affairs at Genentech. Over the past several years, her passion has shifted to mental health, specifically helping those who have not found relief from currently approved medications. She believes in the potential that psychedelics hold for these patients, and she hopes to help make new psychedelic modalities available and accessible for all in need.
Juan Cabrera
Credentials: MD
Dr. Cabrera is a General and Geriatric Psychiatrist. As a general psychiatrist, Dr. Cabrera’s goal is to learn how psychedelic medicine can be used for treatment resistant depression and other mood disorders. As a geriatric psychiatrist, Dr. Cabrera wants to explore the efficacy of these medicines with patients with end-of-life anxiety, cognitive disorders and traumatic brain injury. As a certified performance coach, Dr. Cabrera is curious in the utility of psychedelics with persons in pursuit of self-actualization.
Melissa Cutts
Credentials: MS
Melissa is a Dispensary Agent is interested in using what she knows to help people achieve more fulfilling lives.
Vanessa Dale
Credentials: BS
Vanessa is a Lead Writer at Psychedelic Passage. As a strong advocate for psychedelic healing, she passionately shares her knowledge through the art of writing by shedding light on the medicinal applications of these fascinating substances, unveiling their transformative power in fostering healing and personal growth, as well as highlighting the positive impact of psychedelics and their ability to guide individuals on a path towards enhanced well-being and profound self-discovery.
Leigh Farquhar
Credentials: BS
Leigh is interested in dance, music festivals, and travel. They want to go on to pursue a PhD in psychology (discipline undecided at this time) and specialize in psychedelic integration therapy and related services.
Kian Feiner
Credentials: BS
Kian is a both a Data Scientist at Glaukos Corporation, and the Head of Data & Psychedelic Integration at arii.
Kian intends to help create a sustainable future and protect Earth for posterity. Kian believes that the problems we face as a society are reflections of those we face as individuals. Therefore, Kian wishes to help create the infrastructure necessary to integrate psychoactive pharmaceuticals in society as a means to heal people and the planet, from the inside out.
Kian enjoys Soccer, Volleyball, Surfing, Pokemon, and Mythology.
Michelle Galen
Credentials: MD
Dr. Galen is a Physician and Clinical Research Investigator at Deaconess Health System. As a Clinical Research Investigator, with a background in Family Medicine and Public Health, Dr. Galen is excited to be part of the Multidisciplinary Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation Program. Dr. Galen is looking forward to being on the forefront in development of emerging treatments for her current areas of research, including autism spectrum disorder, migraine headaches, and mood disorders; as well as other diverse pharmacotherapies. Through her Public Health work, she hopes to continue to work with policy makers addressing mental health issues as they relate to public health.
Madelyn Jones
Credentials: BS
Madelyn is currently searching for a position. Her professional interests include conducing and monitoring clinical trials, scientific research, project management, publication and grant writing. Her goals are to take nearly 8 years of working in clinical research and apply them to the budding realm of psychoactive pharmaceutical investigation by monitoring and managing clinical and scientific projects in which further study the science and medical applications behind psychedelics. Her hobbies and interests include traveling around the world, going on hikes, spending time with friends, reading a good book, volunteering within my community, studying weather patterns, and playing with her two cats.
Ethan Kennedy
Credentials: BS
Ethan completed the PPI Capstone Certificate before entering to the MS program.
Kayla Kinsman
Credentials: MS
Kayla is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) at the VA. Kayla is interested in psychedelic therapy for treatment of various psychiatric diagnoses, as well as herbal and holistic healing remedies.
Thi Le
Credentials: BS
Thi is a Horticultural Business Development Consultant at TLeaf Consulting & Co. Thi’s professional interests and goals are to serve as a liaison offering meaningful discourse and solutions within the diverse intersections of stakeholders in the psychedelic industry. Thi thinks the equitable development and sustainability of psychedelic industry will require a collaborative, inclusive model informed by people with a working knowledge of psychedelic history and rhetoric, pharmacology, regulatory and legal structures, drug development, and integrative social/cultural methodologies.
Johnny Lugo
Credentials: BS
Johnny wants to learn more about psychoactive drugs, so he can be better prepared to go into pharmaceutical research. Johnny really wants to work with Ibogaine in the future and explore its potential of being used as a treatment for substance use disorders.
Hena Malik
Credentials: BS
Hena is a Social Media Coordinator at the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines. Hena is interested in doing policy work and research related to psychedelic medicine. Hena’s goal is to create a community that destigmatizes psychedelic use in relation to religion, using it as a tool to become more spiritual.
Natasha Marilu Sanchez
Credentials: BS
Natasha is a Production Associate at Lin-Zhi International. Natasha’s professional interests and goals related to her program of study are to polish her investigative skills and take part in pharmacuetical research.
Annona Martin
Annona is a Research Administrator in the Department of Pathology at School of Medicine and Public Health at UW-Madison. In her free time, you can find her outside! Her number one love is rock climbing but she also enjoys hiking, backpacking, or bikepacking. She is most interested in studying PAP for alleviating existential angst and anxiety at the end of life. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology focused on psycho-oncology in the near future.
Deepika McConnell
Credentials: PharmD
Deepika worked as a neurocritical care pharmacist caring for patients with neurologic diseases for most of her career. Her interest in psychedelic medicine stems from their ability to promote neuroplasticity. Deepika is drawn towards continuing her work in clinical practice with a goal to make treatment accessible to all patients.
Emily Mendoza
Credentials: BA
Emily would love to be a part of a research study that is focused on the use of psychoactive medicine as an alternative for the treatment of mental health and drug addictions.
Sarah Minto-Sparks
Credentials: BS
Sarah is fascinated by psychopharmacology and psychedelic applications for mental health. Sarah is looking to expand upon her undergraduate neuroscience degree and learn about psychoactive drugs in depth, meet like-minded peers, connect with mentors, and ultimately find their place as a scientist in this field!
Elliott Morales
Credentials: MS
Elliott’s goal is to join a team of professionals that is specifically equipped to provide support and guidance to the budding field of psychedelic medicine and to serve prospective populations with humility, respect and reverence.
Tessa Mullin
Credentials: BA
Tessa is currently a Research Assistant at Rush Medical University in Chicago, IL. Tessa’s goal is to help shape the way we approach mental health, making it a more holistic view as opposed to one avenue of treatment.
Nick Olund
Credentials: PharmD
Nick is a Pharmacist with Hy-Vee. Nick is interested in the pharmacology and mechanisms of psychedelic drugs and the therapeutic potential that they can hold. Nick is hoping to use his knowledge and experience as a pharmacist to move into the clinical space of helping to prescribe these medications safely and effectively as they become available.
Nicholas Panico
Credentials: BS
Nicholas is a Medical Writer at Symbio Research LLC. He’d like to gain the necessary scientific background to do clinical research work in the psychedelic space, particularly for mental health.
Bri Pomonis
Credentials: BS
Bri is a Researcher 3 at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Bri is interested in research and developing therapeutic frameworks for using psychedelics in eating disorder/addiction recovery, and how psychedelics can be used to expand the concept of “self” beyond the physical body. Bri is passionate about drug education for young people and harm reduction. Bri also loves exploring the relationship between music and drugs, and how recreationally/socially-used drugs influence how we experience, perceive, and feel about music/the setting.
Anna Przybelski
Credentials: BA
Anna is a Phlebotomist at UW Health. Anna wants to continue research and apply what she has learned about psychedelics, neuroactive drugs, and clinical trials in the future. Anna hopes to one day attend medical school.
Rana Sebak
Credentials: BA
Rana currently works in the pharmaceutical industry as a Trial Manager, and would like to take on a more scientific role in the industry, where Rana gets to contribute to writing and developing clinical trial protocols and clinical study reports, analyzing data, determining dosing for upcoming cohorts, and providing the scientific expertise necessary to design and deliver clinical studies and programs.
Morgan Sexauer
Credentials: BS
Morgan is a Member Engagement Coordinator (Crisis Services) at Centene Corporation. Morgan’s main goal is to contribute to drug science in a way that leads to adequate drug policy. Morgan is primarily interested in helping communities most heavily impacted by a lack of addiction treatment options that lead to increased recidivism rates and cycles of trauma. Morgan’s research interest is looking at psilocybin as a potential therapeutic for several substance use disorders, but I am open to exploring many psychoactive substances in a clinical setting.
Brandon Smith
Credentials: BA
Brandon‘s goal is to become more educated about pharmaceutical industry operations and drug science in order to help increase accessibility to alternative (e.g. psychoactive) mental health treatments. Ultimately, Brandon hopes to also be able to influence policy to help the U.S. get to a point where drugs are regulated, but decriminalized.
Carter Smith
Credentials: BA, CPhT
Carter is a Senior OR Pharmacy Technician with the University of Kentucky. Carter is interested in expanding the oceanic boundlessness of research in the psychedelic realm and becoming an advocate for these medicines. As such, his career goals evolve and change routinely. He is interested in rock climbing, growing plants, and playing with cats.
Jax Smith
Credentials: BA
Jax is a Pharmacy Tech Trainer at UW Health. Jax is pursuing a career related to the regulation and oversight of the emerging psychedelic space. Jax wants to make sure that our future laws and policies for psychoactive drugs are equitable, evidence-based, and help ensure access to safe care.
Maddy Tolland
Credentials: BS
Maddy is a Lab Technician/Technical Support at Sage Science. Over the past five years, Maddy has gained experience in the mental health industry as a residential counselor, laboratory and research skills in the medical laboratory field, as well as cannabis extraction and development at a biotech company. Maddy’s goal is to open her own clinic by 2030, with the mission to provide therapeutic experiences and products through the use of psychoactive medicine. Maddy plans to combine her knowledge of medicinal plants with her science background and passion for mental health treatment in a way that allows people to confront their trauma in a new, mind-expanding way.
John Trevitt
Credentials: BS
John is currently a Mushroom Farmer / Lab Technician and would love to work in clinical research involving psychedelics.
Stephanie Wong
Credentials: BS
Stephanie is a Category Manager at Ruggable. Stephanie hopes to be a reliable advocate in psychoactive pharmacology research, mental health, and public health.
Gabriel Wurzel
Credentials: BA
Gabriel has a background in neuroscience and digital product design. He is interested in applying his skills to contribute to the advancement of psychedelic harm reduction, education, and ensuring equitable access to all types of mental health therapies.
Alexandra Yokomizo
Credentials: BS
Alexandra is a Research Laboratory Technician at Touro University Nevada. Her professional goal is to apply her background in healthcare, sleep medicine, cannabis cultivation, and research with this degree to join a research team or center dedicated to advancing the knowledge and science behind psychoactives.
Kody Zalewski
Credentials: BS
Kody has spent a decade conducting clinical neuroimaging research and data analysis on a variety of patient populations. Outside of the lab, Kody has spearheaded local grassroots support as co-director of an organization pushing for psychedelic legal reform in Washington State. Following this program, Kody is hoping to further private sector growth in psychedelic services as it becomes more mainstream and accepted in American society.
PPI Capstone Student Directory
Cora Brumley
Credentials: MBA
Cora is the Director of Finance & Operations at the Center for Leadership & Educational Equity. Cora is interested in opportunities in organizational leadership in this growing field.
Natasha Carter
Credentials: BA
Natasha would like to be an educational liaison between the psychoactive medical community and the general public.
Beverly Fergus
Credentials: BS
Beverly is retired, and a part-time wellness/fitness instructor. Beverly would like to organize retreats for women in need of assisted therapy, raise money to keep costs down for women who can’t afford this help, and educate people about this kind of mental health care.
Martín Guerrero
Credentials: MBA, CFA
Martín is dedicated to supporting individuals facing substance abuse and mental health challenges by promoting access to plant medicine. With over 15 years of diverse business experience, he aims to leverage the skills and knowledge gained from the PPI program to advance commercialization efforts in the psychedelics field.
Jacy Swiggum
Credentials: MS
As a forward-thinking individual with a passion for human-centric solutions, Jacy plans to integrate her interest in plant science with her academic background in Consumer Behavior and Design to drive innovation within the Psychoactive industry. Whether it be through the advancement of treatments, regulatory structure, patient experience or an entrepreneurial venture, she is hoping to play a part in shaping the future of mental health treatment.
Gabe Trevino
Credentials: BS
Gabe hopes to learn about the different career paths with increased research and popularity surrounding psychedelic medicine. Gabe currently likes the idea of joining a clinical staff in some degree that is using newly approved therapies.
Owen Wheeler
Credentials: BA
Owen is a Research Assistant at Unlimited Sciences. His professional goals are to research and implement evidence-based practices for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy as states such as Colorado roll out their emerging treatment programs. This includes but is not limited to replicability of clinical findings in diverse populations, developing culturally informed therapeutic practices in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and ensuring equitable access to these interventions.