27. From Me-search To Research: How I Turned My Lived Experience Into An Independent Research Project

On episode 27 of A Chat with Uma, I share my full experience of developing a fully independent research project inspired by my lived experience as a patient. I share the full story of how this project was born, and how this idea developed into a full research project that has resulted in presentations, awards, published abstracts, acceptance into Ph.D programs, and an upcoming publication. I discuss the experience of forging my own path as a single-author presenter as a student, and how I navigated various scenarios through this journey. I reflect on how this project provided novel avenues for my advocacy as a patient, and how I bridged my identities as a researcher, patient, & advocate as a result. This episode provides tangible tips and resources for pursuing one's own independent research project, empowering anyone listening to forge their own path and believe in what's possible for them.

Topics Discussed (+ timestamps):

(00:00:00) Checking in with ya'll!

(00:10:20) Introduction to the episode

Contextual episodes:

1. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
2. ⁠24. Nontraditional Students: My Experiences, Advice, & Reflections From My Nontraditional Academic Path⁠
3. ⁠25. From College Dropout to Graduate Student: Navigating Graduate School Applications & Admissions as a Nontraditional Student⁠
4. ⁠19. Disability Isn't A Dirty Word: The Realities of Being Disabled and Navigating Discrimination, Erasure, & Ableism⁠

(00:19:25) EVENT REPLAY: IOCDF's OCD Con 2023 Keynote Address

• Link to watch
• ⁠⁠⁠Video + event recording repository⁠⁠⁠ of many past events

(00:21:56) UPCOMING EVENTS:

• IPN Psychedelic Personal Statement Workshop: Tues. 11/7, 7pm ET | Register here
• Wonderland Miami - "So, You Want To Join The Psychedelic Field?": Sat. 11/11, 3-4pm ET | Register here: code IPN20 for 20% off
• ABRCMS 2023 - Navigating Disabilities in Higher Ed panel: Fri. 11/17, 11:15am | Register here

(00:25:22 ) Context & background behind the inception of my independent research project

• Where I was at academically at the time
• My lack of research & presentation experience at the time
• My "blissful ignorance" of the process

(00:38:30) How the project developed and evolved into posters, presentations, and awards

• Considering myself as a patient related to psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD
• Realizing the gap in the literature & fie