Research Team
Students, researchers, and professionals across industry and academia. See below for a list of active members.
Anya Ragnhildstveit
Director of Research & Development
Ms. Ragnhildstveit is the Founding Director of the IRLG, directly supervising all research students, managing external collaborations, and spearheading research on eating disorders, social AI, and psychedelic therapy. She is also the Founder of the International Collaborative for Psychedelic Medicine, is an NIHR-funded PhD Candidate at the University of Cambridge, England, and previously worked at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Duke.
University of Cambridge | Psychiatry
Paul Seli
Director of Psychological Science
Dr. Seli is the Director of Psychological Science at the IRLG, spearheading research on creativity, mind wandering, social AI, and psychedelics. He is also the Co-Founder of the Research Opportunity Scholarship that supports racial, ethnic, and gender-diverse minorities in pursuing independent research. Apart from the IRLG, Dr. Seli is an Assistant Professor at Duke University, with nearly 100 peer-reviewed, scientific articles.
Duke University | Cognitive Psychology
Miriam Kaiyo
Director of Ethnographic Research
Ms. Kaiyo is the Director of Ethnographic Research at the IRLG, spearheading research on real-world psychedelic therapy, with a focus on facilitation and harm reduction practices. She is also a Psychedelic Somatic Therapist, the Co-Founder of the International Collaborative for Psychedelic Medicine, and a lecturing Adjunct Professor at The University of Utah, where Ms. Kaiyo is completing a PhD in Human Development and Social Policy.
University of Utah | Human Development
Email Address | LinkedIn | Google Scholar
Alexander Landry
Research Fellow | Doctoral Student
Mr. Landry is a Research Fellow at the IRLG, leading and supporting research on intergroup violence, dehumanization, and social AI. He is completing a PhD in Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, and obtained a BS in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Methods-wise, Mr. Landry uses surveys and lab experiments, often combined with archival data analysis.
Stanford University | Social Psychology
Email Address | LinkedIn | Google Scholar
River Jude August
Research Associate | Doctoral Student
Mx. August is a Research Associate at the IRLG, supporting research on dehumanization and psychedelic therapy. They are completing a PhD in Human Development and Social Policy at The University of Utah, where they serve as an Associate Instructor, and previously obtained an MEd in Educational Psychology. Methods-wise, Mx. August uses evidence synthesis, secondary data analysis, observational studies, and lab experiments.
University of Utah | Human Development
Eleonora Armyra
Research Associate | Post-Graduate
Ms. Armyra is a Research Associate at the IRLG, supporting research on eating disorders and psychedelic therapy. She obtained an MSc in Mental Health with a focus on Psychological Therapies at Queen Mary University of London, England, and a BS in Psychology at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece. Methods-wise, Ms. Armyra uses evidence synthesis, secondary datasets, observational studies, and clinical trials.
Queen Mary University of London | Psychiatry
Vismay Agrawal
Research Analyst | Post-Graduate
Mr. Agrawal is a Research Analyst at the IRLG, supporting research on social AI and psychedelic therapy. He is preparing for a doctoral program and obtained an M.Tech and B.Tech with Honors in Biomedical Engineering Design from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India. Methods-wise, Mr. Agrawal uses medical imaging, deep learning, machine learning, statistics, evidence synthesis, observational studies, and lab experiments.
Indian Institute of Tech. Madras | Engineering
Ryan Khan
Research Associate | Post-Baccalaureate
Mr. Khan is a Research Associate at the IRLG, leading and supporting research on psychedelic therapy. He recently obtained a BSc in Human Physiology with Biomedical Science (Industrial) at the University of Leeds, England, and is completing a Psychedelic Core Practitioner Program at the Synthesis Institute. Methods-wise, Mr. Khan uses evidence synthesis, real-world secondary data, observational studies, and lab experiments.
University of Leeds | Clinical Psychology
Email Address | LinkedIn | Google Scholar
Nandita Tuteja
Research Assistant | Post-Baccalaureate
Ms. Tuteja is a Research Assistant at the IRLG, leading and supporting multidisciplinary research. She completed a post-bacc program in Clinical Psychology at the University of California, Irvine, where she now works as a Research Coordinator and MRI technician, and obtained a BA in Psychology from Ashoka University, India. Methods-wise, Ms. Tuteja uses programming, statistics, neuroimaging, lab experiments, and clinical trials.
University of California, IR | Neurobiology
Leo Smart
Research Assistant | Bachelor’s Student
Mr. Smart is a Research Assistant at the IRLG, supporting research on eating disorders and psychedelic therapy. He is completing a BS in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry at Bates College, where he works as an Emergency Medical Technician. Mr. Smart previously served as a Research Assistant at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Methods-wise, he uses evidence synthesis, secondary datasets, and observational studies.
Bates College | Neuroscience
Charlotte Mair
Research Assistant | Master’s Student
Ms. Mair is a Research Assistant at the IRLG, supporting research on dehumanization, social AI, and psychopharmacology. She obtained two MScs, one in Genetics and Psychiatry from King’s College London, and one in Psychological Sciences from Brunel University, England. Ms. Mair received a BS in Biological Sciences from Bournemouth University, England. Methods-wise, she uses genetics, neuroimaging, and clinical trials.
London Southbank University | Psychiatry
Email Address | LinkedIn | Google Scholar
Sarah Spooner
Research Assistant | Post-Baccalaureate
Ms. Spooner is a Research Assistant at the IRLG, supporting research on creativity, dehumanization, and psychedelic therapy. She obtained a BS in Psychology from Florida State University, where she worked in the Transmission Electron Microscopy Lab. Ms. Spooner is now a Research Assistant at Duke University in the Mind at Large Lab. Methods-wise, she uses evidence synthesis, wet lab techniques, and lab experiments.
Duke University | Psychology
Email Address | LinkedIn | Google Scholar
Naz Uzun
Research Assistant | Bachelor’s Student
Ms. Uzun is a Research Assistant at the IRLG, supporting research on eating disorders and psychedelic therapy (e.g., LSD and MDMA). She is completing a BS in Psychology at The University of Manchester, England, where she researches memory using fMRI techniques. Ms. Uzun is also a Peer Support Group Co-Facilitator at Manchester Mind. Methods-wise, she uses neuroimaging, evidence synthesis, observational studies, and lab experiments.
University of Manchester | Psychology
Email Address | LinkedIn | Google Scholar