My name is Alaina.

Thanks for stopping by.

I am the co-founder and current content contributor of the Psychedelic Brain Science Podcast. I received my PhD in Pharmacology & Toxicology from Virginia Commonwealth University where I studied psychedelics effects on rodent models of substance use disorders and neuropsychiatric disorders. My primary research focus has been on the use of translational models across species to learn about neuronal markers of addiction, depression and trauma to better inform pharmacotherapy development. I completed a brief postdoc at Wayne State University before shifting my career to focus on medical communications and science advocacy. I am currently a science journalist, co-chair the SSDP Science Policy Committee, and serve on the trainee editorial board of the Psychedelic Medicine Journal.

I have a passion for communication, advocacy and science. This podcast has been an extension of myself and my beliefs in harm reduction, evidence-based science and policy, and encouragement of diversity within the field. My goals are to continue to work in this space to provide meaningful conversations that further patient care and advocate for the development of novel and safe pharmacotherapies for addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders.