From Dreams to Psychedelics: Tommaso’s Academic Odyssey

Tommaso Barba is an emerging leader in psychedelic research, currently pursuing his PhD at Imperial College London’s renowned Centre for Psychedelic Research. Tommaso demonstrates his dedication to public education around psychedelic science through his prolific posts and commentary on LinkedIn and articles in English and Italian media outlets. 

With a background spanning neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, Tommaso brings an interdisciplinary lens to examining how psychedelics impact mental health, brain function, sexual function and our sense of meaning and well-being. 

As a dedicated researcher and science communicator, Tommaso embodies what the future of psychedelic science can look like – rigorous, ethical, and accessible.

I spoke with Tommaso about how he got started in psychedelic research, the path that is available to others, and what his future plans are.

Academic Exploration of Psychedelics

Floris Wolswijk: How did you, from an academic perspective, get interested in psychedelics? 

Tommaso: I came a bit more from the humanities, more than a lot of people that are involved in the field. During my studies in psychology, I delved into psychoanalysis and was particularly drawn to the work of Carl Jung. His exploration of dreams and the unconscious resonated with me, suggesting a deep connection between the conscious and unconscious mind. 

At the same time, I realised psychoanalysis is very theoretical and mostly mythologised. There are good concepts that are spread too broadly, which is why it’s also lost reputation over time compared to cognitive behavioural therapy or other more superficial approaches. 

By looking at and reading about psychoanalysis, I came in contact with research from the leading psychedelic researcher Robin Carhart-Harris, as he also comes from psychoanalysis. I saw how he was talking about psychedelics as a way to access the human unconscious. At the time, there wasn’t much research. The first psilocybin for depression trial was just published. 

My curiosity was piqued, and I delved into books to gain a deeper understanding. While my studies initially focused on social media marketing after psychology, I became so captivated by this new interest that I decided to shift my career path toward it. I made an attempt to directly connect with Imperial, but to no response.

This setback made me reflect on my qualifications, and I recognized that I might lack the foundational knowledge required for such a prestigious institution. With this realisation, I chose to leave my master’s program. Instead, I opted to ground myself in neuroscience at Maastricht University. I believed that a solid foundation in brain science was essential before diving into the world of psychedelics.

Educational Transitions: Milan to Maastricht to Imperial

Floris: You did your bachelor’s in Milan, and then switched to do your master’s in Maastricht. 

Tommaso: Yes. I discontinued my previous master’s program and moved to Maastricht. I chose it because if you are in Europe and want to study psychedelics, it’s probably the best place, having courses on psychedelics and a strong research team. It’s easier to access than in the UK, especially coming from psychology, since Imperial doesn’t have a psychology department and isn’t interested in psychology graduates.  

Floris: Now you’re at Imperial, so you jumped from Maastricht to there. What motivated you to do that as someone with a psychology background?

Tommaso: Transitioning to Maastricht was a significant challenge, particularly due to the language switch. However, it was a valuable experience that equipped me well. There exists a robust collaboration between Maastricht and Imperial, marked by frequent researcher exchanges. As a research master’s student at Maastricht, I had the advantage of an extended 8-month internship. This duration appeals to Imperial, which holds a preference for Maastricht students, given their comprehensive training. My aspiration has always been to collaborate with Robin Carhart-Harris. With this in mind, I viewed my time at Maastricht as a strategic step toward ultimately joining Imperial.

Nurturing a Career in Psychedelic Research

Floris: Where do you see the future going? Do you want to continue in research at Imperial or elsewhere?

Tommaso: I want to continue research and, after a bit more than a year as a research assistant, I am now in my first year of my PhD. The difficult transition is from Master’s to further roles. There’s a bottleneck in getting from a good internship to a paid job with a large luck component of being at the right place and time. 

I was good at what I was doing and committed, but also in the right place when a job appeared. It’s difficult because talented students don’t always get PhD spots or move to other areas, which is rarely linked to their capabilities. I was lucky, and I acknowledge that.

Floris: What is the chance of going from a Master’s program to doing a PhD in psychedelics?

Tommaso: I think less than 1 in 10. In a given year, there may be less  1-2 PhD spots, but the next year you could be highly skilled, and there’s no supervision capacity or funding for a study. Many factors need to align.

Floris: Looking back, what advice would you give students studying psychology who want to enter this field? 

Tommaso: Be motivated to learn the basics thoroughly. Show strengths in math, statistics, and applicable skills. Network and talk to people so you are known. Many students end up in the psychedelic industry, which is great if academia doesn’t work out. 

Be persistent and open to related roles like neuroimaging or EEG research applicable to psychedelics. If you learn methods, the skills transfer, even if not directly psychedelic research.  Things may come in the long term if you are persistent. PhD work not directly on psychedelics can still lead there if you learn transferable methods and skills. Focus on building expertise rather than just trying to work with psychedelics specifically. With persistence, industry jobs are still possible without an academic route.