KETAMINE POLICY HEALTH RESEARCH

The OPEN foundation is looking for an enthusiastic Master’s student with a fascination for psychedelic research and therapies, particularly around the clinical application and implementation of psychedelic treatments, who is studying healthcare management, health sciences, healthcare policy, or a related field.

ABOUT THE OPEN FOUNDATION

Founded in 2007, the OPEN Foundation is the leading nonprofit organisation in the Netherlands and Europe dedicated to advancing the knowledge and understanding of psychedelics through research. We aim to optimise the potential of psychedelics in a therapeutic context and to help integrate psychedelics into society in a way that’s both sustainable and responsible. We fulfill our mission by bringing together and educating professionals, policymakers, and the public through conferences, trainings, and other events, and by facilitating and promoting rigorous, interdisciplinary research.

We envision a world where safe, beneficial, and accessible applications of psychedelics are ethically and responsibly integrated into science, healthcare, and society.

We regularly organise dedicated expert meetings, trainings, symposiums, and lectures as well as the recurring Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research, all focused on a rigorous, interdisciplinary approach to science.

OPEN is a public benefit organisation and registered charity with the Dutch tax authorities.

ABOUT THE POSITION

We have put together a working group composed of psychiatrists, psychotherapists and researchers connected to various university medical centres (UMCs) and mental healthcare institutions in the Netherlands. Our aims are to formulate a joint research and implementation agenda around psychedelics, and to outline the necessary conditions and criteria for optimal safe and durable implementation and integration in the Dutch mental healthcare system.

What will you be doing?

The aim of this internship is to understand all facets related to the eventual implementation of different psychedelic treatments in the healthcare system, including ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin treatment. In this internship, you will focus on the implementation of (es)ketamine treatments in the Netherlands. An esketamine nasal spray developed by Janssen has recently been registered for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression and new oral formulations are being tested. Currently, only certified mental health institutions are allowed to administer the nasal spray on-site, but this may change in the future. There are many unanswered questions regarding the implementation, training, certification, working mechanisms and much more. This internship will focus on identifying what we currently know, and what we don’t know (but must know) for optimal integration of ketamine treatment in the healthcare system.

You will review policy documents, interview stakeholders in the mental health field, and identify the relevant scientific literature related to ketamine. The expected result of this internship is a concise, well-organised and well documented report that has identified all knowns and unknowns related to the current and future position of ketamine in the mental healthcare system.

For this internship you will work closely together with the executive director of OPEN Foundation and several academic and clinical advisors, all experts in the fields of mental healthcare and psychoactive drugs.

What are we looking for?

• Master student in a relevant discipline (healthcare policy or management, health sciences, biomedical sciences, clinical psychology, medicine, etc.) 
• Excellent academic credentials
• Good communication skills (you may need to proactively approach experts)
• You have an understanding of stakeholders in healthcare policy in the Netherlands
• Proficient in English and Dutch
• Deep interest in/up-to-date knowledge of clinical research into psychedelics
• Basic understanding of clinical research methodology
• Understanding of mental health disorders and diagnosis manuals

What difference will you make?

The OPEN Foundation provides events, education, community, and advocacy related to psychedelic research and therapies. By working together, we can ensure the safe, evidence-based, and beneficial use of psychedelics is integrated ethically and responsibly into science, healthcare, and society.

DETAILS

Job Type:

• Both part-time and full-time possible

Benefits:

• Enjoy flexible schedule
• Work from any location 
• Get free event tickets 
• Work with interesting and respectful team members on exciting projects
• Make a difference in the future of psychedelic research and therapies
• Expand the reach of a growing organisation in an exciting field

Education:

• Master’s student 

Experience:

• Not required

Language:

• English (required)
• Dutch (required)

Work remotely:

• Yes