Richard Knowles, Ph.D. is the founder and executive director of Delos Psyche Research Group as well as a licensed psychologist working at a psychiatry and psychotherapy clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area. He’s also served as faculty at Sofia University, teaching classes on psychology and consciousness studies. As a researcher, his topics of inquiry include consciousness studies, altered states of consciousness, psychedelic studies, and exceptional human experience. He’s performed a clinical post-doc at The Community Center for Health and Wellness as well as a research post-doc at the Transformative Tech Lab. He additionally works for the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies as a lead adherence rater for their MDMA-assisted psychotherapy research treating PTSD. He is proud to serve as principal investigator of this LSD microdosing study, and looks forward to conducting a wide variety of psychedelic research in the future.
Born Bogota, Colombia, Diego earned his Bachelors degree of Science in Psychology from The University of Canberra, Australia. He currently resides in Melbourne and devotes his time to working in the Community Mental Health sector while also completing his Masters degree in Transpersonal Psychology with Sofia University. Diego has developed a deep interest in traditional medicines and a shares a passion for the field of psychedelic studies. He is dedicated to furthering research into substances that have the potential to benefit those who are in great need of healing. In his spare time, Diego enjoys spending time with his partner, reading, studying and practising Buddhism.
Eric Sienknecht received his B.A. in Philosophy and World Religions from Georgetown University in 2000 and his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies in 2011. He is a Licensed Psychologist and Co-founder of Polaris Insight Center, a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy center, and a Sub-investigator and Study Therapist on the Phase 3 MAPS-sponsored MDMA-assisted psychotherapy clinical trials for treatment of PTSD. His areas of expertise include treatment of depression, chronic pain, trauma, and integration of psychedelic experiences. His professional interests include psychoanalysis, consciousness research, mystical and peak experiences, mindfulness, and studying the synergistic effects of yoga, music, and psychedelics. He writes articles for Chacruna.net and presents regularly at psychedelic conferences on topics such as Set and Setting in Psychedelic Therapy and Ethics of Psychedelic Therapy and Research.
Jana was born in Prague, Czech Republic. She finished her Business and Economy studies in Europe. In 2014, she moved to the USA, where she got into Personal Health. In 2016 she graduated from National Personal Training Institute and received her National Academy of Sports and Medicine Certification. She continued her studies and earned the NASM Nutrition Specialization Certificate and become CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level I. Jana has developed an interest in learning other cultures, so she took a year off and did solo traveling around the world. Her most current role is learning about Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy while working for Polaris Insight Center. Jana is very passionate about spreading environmental awareness and about relationships between humans and our ecosystem. Her interest is in consciousness, the mind-body connection and the role psychedelics play in healing trauma.
Ian has spent most of his successful career in the culinary industry, being the spokesman for numerous new concepts in Indianapolis and Chicago, but has always been about community outreach. He started and hosted the longest running open mic night in Indianapolis, and has taken part in many community fundraising events with restaurants and art shows. Ian now works with small businesses and groups to promote their events and charitable causes, as well as helps out on local political campaigns of candidates that want to help the community. Ian works to create a better world through social, spiritual, and educational community building.
Georgette was born and raised in the Southern border of Texas and Mexico. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin (UT) with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Communications. At UT she took classes and projects related to drugs, mental health, and learning. Her interest in the science of Psychedelics piqued during her senior year and she gave an intersectional speech advocating for the legalization of Psychedelics. It was at that point that she had decided she wanted to help reform the current biases people had on Psychedelics and bring to light their true potential to heal people. She is currently living in Seattle and is passionate about educating others on the kaleidoscopic topics involving Psychedelics. In her personal life she enjoys baking for friends, reading books with a good cup of tea, running with her shepsky, practicing yoga, and traveling any chance she gets.
Michael Doty is a psychotherapist, researcher, and artist. Michael exhibited a keen interest in studying consciousness from a young age, often using methods such as hanging upside down, merry-go-rounds, and sensory deprivation using himself and his brothers as test subjects. His formal entry in studying consciousness came as an undergraduate at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, where he double majored in psychology and philosophy, studying the role of psychedelics in Taoism and Buddhism, as well as the impact of spirituality on alcohol consumption. After receiving his master’s in counseling psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies, Michael began working as a psychotherapist, specializing in the use of expressive arts therapy to foster personal growth. Michael is currently finishing coursework for his PhD at Sofia University, where he is studying the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic medicine.
Daniel Mantuani is a practicing Emergency Medicine Physician and the Ultrasound Fellowship Director at a San Francisco Bay Area Level-1 Trauma public safety net hospital. Graduating from Tulane School of Medicine in 2007 and training in Emergency Medicine, his professional interests include teaching, resuscitation, ultrasound, regional anesthesia, pain and addiction. He strives to help find and investigate novel techniques for the advancement of medicine and to help his patients.
Liz earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Seton Hall University, and a Master of Arts in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her main goal and purpose have been to contribute to the new frontier in our scientific understanding of consciousness and spirituality. She has hands-on experience in the field of parapsychology, working for The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), and as a research assistant for the ACES Study (Anomalous Cognition with Electromagnetic Shielding). Her most current role was as an admissions counselor for Sofia University, home of The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. Elizabeth is driven and dedicated towards revolutionizing our understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe
Bao Tram earned her Biochemistry B.S from the University of California, Los Angeles and Transpersonal Psychology M.A from Sofia University. Her interests span from Quantum Physics and Genetics to the more esoteric realm of Metaphysics, Consciousness and Spirituality. From the sum of her scattered focus, she has decided on a career path of a quantum-enlightened scientist. Following the Unified Physics principle, she strives to become a catalyst for transformative vision and solution that help making a difference in the world. Through exploring the connection between science, creativity, spirituality, and consciousness, she is reminded with how little human senses can detect and understand reality. Fascinated by human potential, her passion lies within Transformative Technology and has always been interested in how technology can help individual expand beyond their perceived limits to develop and transform themselves to the highest level.
Alex's fascination with all aspects of neuroscience began in his formative years; constantly seeking answers to questions regarding human cognition, behavior, and social dynamics. While earning his Bachelor of Science degree with specialization in Psychopharmacology from San Diego State University;he began studying the underlying neurochemical mechanisms which mediate these schemas in the human brain. In his role as Project Manager within The Attention Lab at SDSU he investigated factors influencing study abroad experiences, cognitive engagement in the classroom, impacts of anxiety and technology on academic engagement as well as forensic psychology relating to jury trials. After graduation he utilized his knowledge consulting for international clients in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and India as a business psychology expert. Upon returning to the United States he shifted his focus toward the application of psychedelic substances in the mental health domain. Currently Alex is traveling the country with his partner executing fund-raising events for non-profit organizations aiming to integrate the use of psychedelic substances into psycho-therapeutic protocols.
Vanessa is a PhD student in East-West Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She earned her MA in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, and a BA in Anthropology from Webster University. She works with individuals and groups in the San Francisco Bay Area as a yoga therapist helping clients deepen their understanding of the mind-body relationship. Vanessa has a profound admiration for the ocean and finds her deepest sense of connection to herself, others, and the world while in nature. She is inspired every day to help expand our understanding of consciousness and our capacity to heal through mindful, therapeutic practices. Her daily meditation practice fuels and supports her vision regarding expanded states of consciousness, life, and spirituality. The healing power ancient wisdom traditions understood drives her interest in a holistic health care.
Is a Psychologist from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. As a Licenced Psychotherapist from the Sociedad de Psicología Clínica de Chile, she has been practicing humanistic and transpersonal psychotherapy since 1997. For the last 10 years, she has specialized in treating complex trauma and PTSD as a certified EMDR practioner and clinical supervisor. Currently, she is completing her Ph.D. in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute for Integral Studies, CIIS, and advancing her dissertation proposal on Entheogens and Psychotherapy.
Marisa is a researcher, engineer, and consultant. Her interest in holistic treatment for psychological disorders began eight years ago while seeking treatment for family. Her primary interests include science backed diagnostics and naturopathic treatment methods, such as diet, nutrient supplementation, exercise, psychedelics, community involvement and mindfulness training. She graduated from UCSD with two Bachelors of Science in Bioengineering: Biosystems and Physiology & Neuroscience. While at UCSD, Marisa worked at the Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Lab to identify effective therapeutics for cancer and at the Schwartz Center for Computational Neuroscience to create a multi-modal device (EEG and motion tracking) that would enable early diagnosis, progression tracking and episode prediction for Parkinsons. Recently, she worked at an EEG company, where she specialized in EEG applications and training. In addition to science, Marisa is a water enthusiast who finds peace in nature. In her spare time you will likely find her at the beach with her dogs, camping at a hot spring or wakesurfing at the lake.
If you think you qualify for this study please email our Principal Investigator Dr. Richard Knowles
richard.knowles@delospsyche.org