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Reposted by Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS

Jason Williams @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social · 13d

Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.

The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP

jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/

An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

jasonjwilliamsny.github.io

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Reposted by Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS

Susanne Ahmari @ahmarilab.bsky.social · 26d

So excited for the first ever @onemindorg.bsky.social Summit on the Future of Mental Health Research! Led by brilliant CSO Dr. Tahilia Rebello to accelerate big ideas to impact 🧠💪🏼🧪

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Susanne Ahmari @ahmarilab.bsky.social · 26d

Tech check complete! 🎤

So excited for the @onemindorg.bsky.social Science and Music Festival keynote tomorrow! 🧠💗

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 25

This was truly one of my favorite A Chat with Uma episodes I’ve ever released!✨ I'm so grateful for how @theborislab.bsky.social shared not only his work, but his own story, with such honesty, generosity, + depth 🙌🏾🙏🏾

📖 Read below for full show notes + timestamps, and listen at the link above! ☝🏾

Podcast episode description text reads:
“On episode 51 of A Chat with Uma, I sit down with Dr. Boris Heifets, MD, PhD—associate professor at Stanford, anesthesiologist, neuroscientist, & one of the most extraordinary scientists & clinicians who is truly revolutionizing mental health! He pushes the boundaries of how we approach consciousness, mental health, & pharmacology—asking questions most people are too afraid to traverse: Do we need to be awake for drugs to heal the brain? What exactly are ketamine, MDMA, & psilocybin doing when they flip a circuit? Could anesthesiology itself hold keys to psychiatry’s future?
And yet what makes Boris remarkable isn’t only the science—it’s who he is. Over two hours, he shares not just his cutting-edge research but his story: moving from Moscow to the U.S., struggling with belonging, discovering MDMA & LSD in college, & how those experiences of connection still shape his lab’s vision today. We explore MDMA for OCD & autism, the limits of “magic bullet” thinking, why context & lifestyle matter more than a single intervention, & how anesthesiology lets him practice applied neuroscience in real time. If you want to understand where psychiatry is heading & hear from one of field’s foremost minds, this is an episode you cannot miss.”
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Subheading: “Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):”
A list of timestamps and segment titles follows:

(00:00:00) Introduction & welcome to Dr. Boris Heifets, MD, PhD!

(00:08:44) How Boris & I first met, & why I've admired him since!

(00:11:00) Who Boris is beyond titles: curiosity, sci-fi imagination, & breaking boundaries

(00:16:00) Childhood across Moscow, Denver, St. Louis, Philly → disconnection & search for belonging

(00:17:30) College discoveries: MDMA & LSD → the shock of true connection

(00:19:30) MDMA for autism spectrum: Alicia Danforth’s trial & showing connection for the first time

(00:22:00) Psychedelics as tools, not cures → lifestyle & comorbidities vs. one-day interventions

(00:27:00) How reductionistic models fail to capture what psychedelics actually do

(00:31:00) Anesthesiology + psychiatry + neuroscience → how Boris integrates it all
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A continued list of timestamps and segment topics:

(00:36:40) Applied neuroscience: giving drugs, flipping brain states in real time

(00:43:00) Why mental health was always his focus & the bottlenecks of human communication

(01:00:00) Translational bridge: MDMA, ketamine, psilocybin across mice & humans

(01:12:00) What anesthesiology teaches psychiatry about states, context, & timing

(01:25:00) Team science vs. lone-genius myth → collaboration, controversy, courage

(01:36:00) What makes psychedelic medicine powerful: bending life trajectories, not instant cures

(01:45:00) How to measure outcomes when the drug is just the beginning

(01:55:00) Risks, hype, & how to ground the field in reality without losing hope

(02:10:00) Closing reflections: radical curiosity, gratitude, & staying human in the science
A bright green circular play button appears in the upper right corner.

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Reposted by Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS

Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 25

🤯TRIPPING IN YOUR SLEEP: Psychedelics, The Placebo Effect, & How Human Connection Heals the Brain with Dr. Boris Heifets @theborislab.bsky.social💭 Ep. 51 of A Chat with Uma out now! 🌟

This ep is truly a dream come true (no pun intended)-a MUST listen! 🙌🏾 Tune in📲 creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 25

This was truly one of my favorite A Chat with Uma episodes I’ve ever released!✨ I'm so grateful for how @theborislab.bsky.social shared not only his work, but his own story, with such honesty, generosity, + depth 🙌🏾🙏🏾

📖 Read below for full show notes + timestamps, and listen at the link above! ☝🏾

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 25

🤯TRIPPING IN YOUR SLEEP: Psychedelics, The Placebo Effect, & How Human Connection Heals the Brain with Dr. Boris Heifets @theborislab.bsky.social💭 Ep. 51 of A Chat with Uma out now! 🌟

This ep is truly a dream come true (no pun intended)-a MUST listen! 🙌🏾 Tune in📲 creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...

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Reposted by Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS

Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 12

2) I’m honored to be selected as a mentee for the @acnporg.bsky.social Near-Peer Mentorship Program! 🎉

I’m deeply grateful to everyone in our field who has supported me as a scientist with lived experience! I wouldn’t be here without your belief in me & you challenging the stigma! 🙏🏾 #ACNP2026

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Reposted by Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS

Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 12

THRILLED to share @acnporg.bsky.social news x2!

1) Our study group “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” @ericjnestler.bsky.social @mayaschumer.bsky.social @deffinger.bsky.social @viscidula.bsky.social @noelvest.bsky.social @cahill-lab.bsky.social=ACCEPTED! 🤩 #ACNP2026

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Scott Thompson, PhD @sthom003.bsky.social · Aug 12

So important to recognize the value and recognize the importance of lived experiences! Thank you to all the panelists for your courage and generosity!

Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 12

THRILLED to share @acnporg.bsky.social news x2!

1) Our study group “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” @ericjnestler.bsky.social @mayaschumer.bsky.social @deffinger.bsky.social @viscidula.bsky.social @noelvest.bsky.social @cahill-lab.bsky.social=ACCEPTED! 🤩 #ACNP2026

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Jared Young @jaredwyoung.bsky.social · Aug 12

FANTASTIC news Uma, you are perfect for leading this Study Group and will be a fantastic follow-up on the Luncheon discussion we had last year on Neurodiversity as a strength!
Thank you for your continued work in this area!
😍

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Alaina Jaster, PhD @jasteralaina.bsky.social · Aug 12

Heck yes!!! That is going to be one incredible panel!!

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Maya Schumer! @mayaschumer.bsky.social · Aug 13

@acnporg.bsky.social brought @umarchatterjee.bsky.social
@deffinger.bsky.social & me together last year: After finding each other on X-as we are all public/open about our lived experience -we met+discussed the ideas for this Study Group! Looking forward to doing this work together@ #ACNP2026💥🧠❤️

Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 12

THRILLED to share @acnporg.bsky.social news x2!

1) Our study group “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” @ericjnestler.bsky.social @mayaschumer.bsky.social @deffinger.bsky.social @viscidula.bsky.social @noelvest.bsky.social @cahill-lab.bsky.social=ACCEPTED! 🤩 #ACNP2026

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 12

2) I’m honored to be selected as a mentee for the @acnporg.bsky.social Near-Peer Mentorship Program! 🎉

I’m deeply grateful to everyone in our field who has supported me as a scientist with lived experience! I wouldn’t be here without your belief in me & you challenging the stigma! 🙏🏾 #ACNP2026

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 12

THRILLED to share @acnporg.bsky.social news x2!

1) Our study group “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” @ericjnestler.bsky.social @mayaschumer.bsky.social @deffinger.bsky.social @viscidula.bsky.social @noelvest.bsky.social @cahill-lab.bsky.social=ACCEPTED! 🤩 #ACNP2026

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Reposted by Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS

ACNP @acnporg.bsky.social · Aug 8

Join us in Congratulating the 2025 ACNP Travel Award Class! 🙌🎉

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Reposted by Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS

Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 2

Ecstatic to share my @ologies.bsky.social episode on #OCD! 🎉

SO grateful to (my fav human!) @alieward.bsky.social for having me on! This was such a rewarding + healing experience for me, fully sharing as a researcher INFORMED by my lived experience 🥺🫶🏾

TUNE IN 👉🏾 www.alieward.com/ologies/ocdb... 1/🧵

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 2

Thank you so much for your kind message & for sharing this @nora.zone! 🥺❤️ I’m so glad that the episode was supportive, & I’m sending you so much love + care as you navigate next steps. Please always remember that you’re not alone & there is so much hope! Thank you for listening! 🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾

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Nora Reed (they/them ze/hir) @nora.zone · Jul 30

@umarchatterjee.bsky.social hey thank you so much for the podcast. i haven't been formally diagnosed yet but everything you said matches my experience and i am going to look into getting treatment

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 2

This is such a massive WIN for the #OCDCommunity + #OCDAwareness. Whether you’re already diagnosed, you don’t have OCD but learned new things, or you’re one of the countless folks sharing that they felt truly seen for the first time—I PROMISE you’re not alone & we got you. ❤️ @ologies.bsky.social 5/🧵

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 2

The power of platforming *real* OCD on @ologies.bsky.social—one of the biggest podcasts in the WORLD—is profound for such a misunderstood & stigmatized condition. These episodes are MASTERFUL (as always) & will save MILLIONS of lives. To have the honor of being part of this is indescribable. 🥹 4/🧵

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 2

I can’t thank @alieward.bsky.social enough for covering #OCD (with not one, but TWO eps!) on @ologies.bsky.social with SUCH depth, (healthy😉) diligence, compassion, & care. And Alie, thank you for YOUR bravery + vulnerability in sharing your own lived experience w/ us. You are SO seen & loved. ❤️ 3/🧵

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 2

We cover SO much on @ologies.bsky.social, including: My story, POCD+taboo+harm themes, mental compulsions, #OCD neurobiology, genetics, evidence-based treatments, emerging psychedelic research (+ my lived experience), neuromodulation, the devastating consequences of stigma & misinformation, +! 🧠 2/🧵

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Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS @umarchatterjee.bsky.social · Aug 2

Ecstatic to share my @ologies.bsky.social episode on #OCD! 🎉

SO grateful to (my fav human!) @alieward.bsky.social for having me on! This was such a rewarding + healing experience for me, fully sharing as a researcher INFORMED by my lived experience 🥺🫶🏾

TUNE IN 👉🏾 www.alieward.com/ologies/ocdb... 1/🧵

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Reposted by Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Jul 15

A discussion of the use of animals in research.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSvk...

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(Warning: Rant coming)

Director’s Desk: The Future of Animal Models in Research | NIH’s Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer

YouTube video by National Institutes of Health (NIH)

www.youtube.com

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