Katherine MacLean

Katherine MacLean, PhD, is a neuroscientist, psychedelic researcher, and author whose career bridges academic science and personal experience. MacLean completed her BA in psychology and neuroscience at Dartmouth College, earned a PhD in research psychology at the University of California, Davis, and conducted postdoctoral research in psychopharmacology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

During her graduate training at UC Davis, MacLean was a lead researcher on the Shamatha Project, a study examining the effects of intensive meditation on psychological and brain function. This work established a foundation for her ongoing research into mindfulness meditation, psychedelics, cognitive performance, emotional well-being, spirituality, and brain function.

MacLean served as a research fellow and faculty member at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she conducted clinical trials of psilocybin—the primary compound in "magic mushrooms"—and other psychedelic substances. As a researcher and head guide in these trials, she found that high-dose psilocybin can increase openness and provide other psychological benefits. While at Johns Hopkins, MacLean apprenticed with psychedelic therapists Bill Richards, PhD, and Mary Cosimano, LSW, gaining experience in supporting individuals before, during, and after high-dose psychedelic sessions. She has facilitated more than 100 psychedelic sessions with patients and research participants.

MacLean co-founded and directed the first center for psychedelic education and training in New York. She was featured in the New Yorker article "The Trip Treatment" by Michael Pollan, and her TED Talk has reached a wide audience. In her role at the center, MacLean led training workshops and monthly integration groups focused on increasing awareness and reducing risks associated with psychedelic use. Her public profile has grown as the conversation around psychedelic medicine has become more mainstream, and she is recognized as a knowledgeable voice in the field.

MacLean is the author of the book "Midnight Water: A Psychedelic Memoir," which explores the transformative potential of psychedelics through her perspective as a research neuroscientist. The memoir addresses psychedelic healing and envisions a future where women and family caregivers play a central role in home-based healing. The book has received positive reviews, including from Kirkus Reviews.

MacLean's teaching and integration approach combines academic and clinical research with practical intuition informed by personal experiences, such as silent meditation retreats and a pilgrimage in the Himalayan mountain range in Nepal. She emphasizes the medical, therapeutic, creative, and spiritual applications of psychedelics. MacLean's expertise in both scientific research and lived experience makes her a respected presence in the fields of neuroscience, psychedelic therapy, and mental health.