Give your time to research that tells the truth
Every role in The Canopy can be filled as paid work or offered as volunteer service. Which one it is, is your choice, not the role’s. If you believe people deserve honest answers about the natural products they already use, you are welcome to give your time, in any capacity you are qualified for, to help build research worth trusting.
The stakes are bigger than any single study
Tens of millions of people take herbs, mushrooms, ferments, and other natural products every day, hoping for help with sleep, pain, mood, stress, or general health. Most do it on the strength of tradition, marketing, or a friend’s advice, and far too rarely on the strength of rigorous human evidence. The market is enormous and lightly regulated. The claims almost always run ahead of the proof.
That gap is not harmless. People make real decisions about their health inside it. Some spend money on things that do nothing. Some take a product that interacts badly with a medication they already need. Some give up on a substance that careful research might have shown to be useful, because no one ever ran that research. A shortage of honest evidence hurts people in both directions.
Herbal Trials exists to help close that gap, carefully and without taking sides. It does not sell supplements, make efficacy claims, or endorse any substance. It asks honest questions through physician-supervised research and publishes what it finds, including the results no one was hoping for. A well-run study that concludes “this does not work” serves the public just as much as one that finds a benefit. Both are the truth, and the truth is the only product we are interested in.
Credible research takes more than scientists
The laboratory and the clinic are only part of it. Credible research also depends on the people who explain a study in plain language, who make participation possible across languages and abilities, who reach communities that research has historically left out, and who hold the whole effort to its boundaries. Much of that work is done best by people from the very communities the research is meant to serve, and a great deal of it can be done by volunteers.
There is also a practical reason. Real studies are expensive and slow to fund, so a young organization has to assemble its people before the money arrives. Volunteering is how many of the best contributors join early, help prove the mission is real, and stand ready the day a study is funded. The bench you help build now is what lets the work move quickly and responsibly later.
We are not here to prove that natural products work. We are here to find out, honestly, and to tell everyone what we learn.
Herbal Trials · The CanopyEvery role can be volunteered
We do not sort roles into paid and volunteer columns. Any position in The Canopy can be filled as paid work or offered as donated time, and which one it is depends on you, not on the title. A retired biostatistician might volunteer the same analysis another person is paid to do. A community member might give a few hours a month to outreach. A licensed clinician might donate time to a committee. If you want to help the cause, you are welcome to volunteer your time in any capacity you are qualified for.
Where volunteers most often help today is community and education work: outreach and participant navigation, plain-language and accessibility review, and hosting honest, non-promotional education. But the door is open to the whole bench. Browse every role below, and remember that each one can be served as a volunteer.
What volunteering is not
Volunteering with The Canopy is real, valued service, and it is always your free choice. It is also bounded, on purpose. These limits protect participants, protect you, and protect the integrity of the evidence. Several of them are also the law.
- Not an obligation. Volunteer service is freely chosen and offered without the expectation of payment. If you would rather be paid for a role, that is completely fine. Just tell us.
- Not a way to replace paid jobs. We do not cut paid positions to backfill them with free labor, and we do not lean on volunteers to avoid paying for work that should be paid.
- Not a shortcut around credentials. Choosing to volunteer never waives the license, training, and authorization a role requires. No one performs licensed clinical duties without them.
- Not permission to contact participants. No screening, consent, data collection, or study-product handling until a protocol, IRB approval, training, and a delegation log allow it.
- Not a source of medical advice. Volunteers do not diagnose, treat, or tell anyone whether a substance will help them. They point people back to their own clinicians.
- Not a platform for claims. Volunteers make no efficacy or endorsement claims about any herb, mushroom, ferment, or other natural product.
When people ask why a small nonprofit would take on something as hard as honest research into herbs and natural products, I tell them the truth: because almost no one else will, and because people deserve better than guesswork.
Every day, millions of people make real decisions about their health based on hope, tradition, or a label, with very little honest evidence to guide them. We cannot fix that with marketing or good intentions. We can only fix it with patient, rigorous, transparent work, and with people willing to do that work the right way, even when the answer turns out to be no.
That is where you come in. The volunteers who give their time to this mission are not filling a gap until we can afford to pay someone. They are a large part of why the work is credible at all. They explain, they include people who are too often left out, and they hold us to our word. They make the science trustworthy by keeping it human.
I will not promise you that every study ends the way anyone hopes. I will promise you that whatever we learn, we will share honestly, and that your time will be treated as the gift it is. If you choose to give it, you will help build something our communities can actually trust. That is rare, and it matters more than I can easily say.
Thank you for considering it. I hope you will join us.
Find where you would like to help
Search the full catalog and filter by family or status. Every role you see can be served as a volunteer.
114 roles
Principal Investigator
Clinical · Leads a future study at a site: protocol conduct, participant safety, and data integrity under GCP. Full CV, active license, prior PI and IRB history, and conflict disclosure.
Sub-Investigator
Clinical · Supports the PI on delegated study tasks under supervision. License/credential, GCP/HSP training, and clinical-research experience.
Study Physician / Supervising Physician
Clinical · Provides clinical oversight: eligibility, adverse-event review, and participant safety. Active license, specialty, and protocol-specific availability.
Medical Monitor
Clinical · Independent medical oversight and safety escalation across a study. Medical license, safety-monitoring experience, and independence attestation.
Clinical Research Nurse
Clinical · Delivers study visits: vitals, specimen collection, dosing support, and source documentation. RN license, GCP/HSP, and research-nursing experience.
Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant
Clinical · Advanced-practice support within scope and supervision arrangements. License, state scope, GCP/HSP, and clinical-research experience.
Registered Dietitian / Nutrition Scientist
Clinical · Registered dietitian or nutrition scientist (RD/RDN) for dietary intake, supplement and natural-product interactions, and nutrition outcomes — supporting participant safety under physician supervision. Active credential required.
Clinical Research Coordinator
Clinical · Coordinates recruitment, screening, consent logistics, visit scheduling, source documentation, and EDC entry after protocol-specific training and authorization.
Senior / Lead Clinical Research Coordinator
Clinical · CRC experience plus team leadership, site startup, monitoring response, and delegation-log management.
Informed Consent Specialist
Clinical · Supports legally effective, plain-language informed consent and its documentation. HSP/GCP, consent-process experience, and language skills.
Participant Navigator
Clinical · Helps participants understand logistics and access support, within strict boundaries. Participant-support experience and language skills.
Recruitment & Screening Coordinator
Clinical · Runs compliant recruitment and pre-screening with privacy training and approved scripts.
Research Pharmacist / Investigational Product Lead
Clinical · Investigational-product accountability: storage, blinding, randomization support, and dispensing records. Pharmacist license where applicable.
Pharmacovigilance / Safety Specialist
Clinical · Adverse-event reporting, MedDRA coding, and safety narratives under GCP/safety training.
Telehealth Study Coordinator
Clinical · Remote visit and remote-consent workflows with privacy training and clear escalation paths.
Chief Medical Officer / Medical Director
Clinical · Clinical and safety leadership across the program. Medical CV, active license, board certification, GCP/HSP, and conflict disclosure.
Director of Clinical Operations
Clinical · Owns trial operations: SOPs, EDC/CTMS, site management, and inspection readiness.
Pharmacognosist
Botanical science · Natural-products expertise: characterization, analytical methods, and the literature behind candidate substances.
Botanist / Taxonomist
Botanical science · Plant identification and authentication, voucher specimens, and morphological/DNA methods.
Mycologist
Botanical science · Fungal identification, cultivation, and characterization for mushroom-derived candidate substances.
Phytochemist
Botanical science · Constituent analysis and method development: HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, NMR, and standardization.
Analytical Chemist
Botanical science · Instrumentation, method validation and qualification, and certificate-of-analysis work.
Extraction / Formulation Scientist
Botanical science · Extraction methods, solvent systems, dosage forms, excipients, and stability/compatibility.
Fermentation Scientist
Botanical science · Fermentation and bioprocessing of plant- and fungus-derived materials, with characterization and quality controls.
Microbiologist
Botanical science · Contamination testing, microbial identification, and (where relevant) fermentation microbiology.
Toxicologist
Botanical science · Dose-safety evaluation for botanical candidates: NOAEL/LOAEL familiarity and safety memos.
Drug–Herb Interaction Specialist
Botanical science · Pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of interactions: CYP/P-gp familiarity and interaction literature reviews.
Ethnobotanist
Botanical science · Cultural context, fieldwork, and community-consent / benefit-sharing awareness for traditional preparations.
Certified / Registered Herbalist Advisor
Botanical science · Traditional-preparation expertise in a non-clinical advisory role. AHG/RH or equivalent where applicable.
GMP / Quality Control Specialist
Botanical science · Dietary-supplement CGMP, supplier qualification, batch records, and specifications.
Analytical Lab / Testing Partner
Botanical science · Accredited testing lab offering methods, turnaround, and sample reports. Vendor due-diligence and conflict disclosure apply.
Botanical Supplier / Manufacturer
Botanical science · Supplier/manufacturer of candidate materials. COAs, batch records, contamination testing, ownership and recall disclosure.
Naturopathic Doctor (ND/NMD)
Botanical science · A licensed naturopathic doctor (ND), or naturopathic medical doctor (NMD) where state law licenses them as physicians. They advise on botanical and natural-product study design, dosing, safety, and the honest interpretation of results, grounding the science in clinical knowledge of how these agents are actually used. Active license required.
Traditional-Practice Historian / Advisor
Botanical science · Historical and traditional-practice context for botanicals and natural products — documenting how a remedy has been used across time and cultures to inform honest study design, never to assert efficacy.
Director of Botanical Sciences
Botanical science · Scientific leadership across pharmacognosy, chemistry, and quality, with strict conflict management around suppliers and brands.
Clinical-Trial Methodologist
Design & data · Rigorous trial design: SPIRIT/CONSORT, bias control, and protocol development.
Biostatistician
Design & data · Sample size, design, and analysis plans; R/SAS/Stata/Python; publications.
Statistical Programmer
Design & data · Reproducible analysis; CDISC/ADaM/SDTM where applicable; portfolio of code.
Epidemiologist
Design & data · Observational and clinical study design, confounding and bias methods.
Clinical Data Manager
Design & data · EDC management, data dictionaries, query handling, and database lock.
EDC Builder / Clinical Database Developer
Design & data · Builds and validates electronic data capture systems for studies.
Randomization / IRT Specialist
Design & data · Randomization design, allocation concealment, and blinding integrity.
Patient-Reported Outcomes Specialist
Design & data · PRO instrument selection, validation familiarity, and licensing awareness.
Medical Writer
Design & data · Protocols, clinical study reports, manuscripts, and plain-language summaries.
Open Science / Reproducibility Lead
Design & data · Open data and code practices, repository governance, and de-identification — supporting our commitment to publish all results.
Director of Data & Analytics
Design & data · Leads data governance, pipelines, and privacy/security for study data.
Human Research Protection Program Manager
Legal & regulatory · Runs the human-research protection program: IRB submissions, consent documents, and SOPs.
IRB Liaison
Legal & regulatory · Manages IRB submissions, continuing review, amendments, and reportable events.
Bioethicist
Legal & regulatory · Working bioethics review of protocols, consent, and publication ethics — independent counsel on participant protection, equity, and honest reporting, distinct from the volunteer Ethics Advisory Board.
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Legal & regulatory · FDA/IRB experience and botanical / dietary-supplement / drug classification familiarity.
IND / FDA Submissions Specialist
Legal & regulatory · IND preparation, eCTD familiarity, and FDA correspondence.
ClinicalTrials.gov / PRS Manager
Legal & regulatory · Trial registration and results reporting on the required timelines — central to our transparency commitments.
Trial Master File Specialist
Legal & regulatory · TMF/eTMF, essential-documents checklists, and inspection readiness.
QA Auditor
Legal & regulatory · GCP/GMP/GLP auditing as relevant, with independence disclosure.
SOP Writer
Legal & regulatory · Clear, compliant standard operating procedures and quality documentation.
GCP Trainer / Training Coordinator
Legal & regulatory · GCP/HSP training delivery, LMS experience, and training records.
CAPA Manager
Legal & regulatory · Root-cause analysis and corrective/preventive action within quality systems.
Privacy & Records Compliance Analyst
Legal & regulatory · Privacy and security practice, retention schedules, and breach-response familiarity.
Director of Regulatory Affairs
Legal & regulatory · Leads regulatory strategy across IND/FDA/IRB and botanical classification questions.
Director of Quality Assurance / GCP Compliance
Legal & regulatory · Owns the quality system: audits, SOPs, CAPA, and inspection readiness.
Senior Attorney
Legal & regulatory · Handles substantive legal work across contracts, corporate and nonprofit governance, intellectual property, employment, privacy, and research agreements, and mentors junior legal staff. Active bar admission and several years of relevant practice.
Junior Attorney
Legal & regulatory · Supports contracts, compliance, vendor and research agreements, corporate filings, and legal research under supervision. Active bar admission; early-career attorneys welcome.
Paralegal
Legal & regulatory · Drafts and manages contracts, corporate records, filings, and matter files, and supports the attorneys with legal research and document management. Paralegal experience or certificate preferred.
Legal Assistant
Legal & regulatory · Administrative support for the legal function: scheduling, document handling, filing, records management, and correspondence. Strong organization and discretion.
Participant Recruitment Lead
Community · Plans compliant, privacy-aware recruitment and outreach with approved materials.
Community Outreach Ambassador
Community · Represents Herbal Trials in the community within clear boundaries — no medical advice, no enrollment promises.
Participant Retention Specialist
Community · Supports follow-up and scheduling with empathy and a strict no-coercion stance.
Patient / Participant Advocate
Community · Brings lived or advocacy experience to protect participant interests, with confidentiality.
Plain-Language Reviewer
Community · Makes consent forms and materials readable — health-literacy and editing skills.
Accessibility Reviewer
Community · WCAG or lived-experience perspective on accessible materials and processes.
Interpreter / Translator
Community · Research/medical terminology in multiple languages, with confidentiality.
Bilingual Recruitment Specialist
Community · Recruitment fluency across languages with privacy and script training.
Educational Webinar Host
Community · Hosts educational sessions on research literacy — no medical advice, no claims.
Event Volunteer
Community · Helps at community and educational events. Availability and role preferences.
Social Media / Community Moderator
Community · Moderates community channels with misinformation-escalation judgment and a strict no-claims policy.
Director of Community & Participant Experience
Community · Leads community engagement, recruitment, retention, language, and accessibility.
Product Manager, Canopy
Technology · Owns the Canopy product: requirements, research/compliance systems, and roadmap.
Full-Stack Next.js Engineer
Technology · Builds the portal: TypeScript/Next.js, auth/RBAC, file pipelines, with security awareness.
Backend Engineer
Technology · APIs and databases, upload pipelines, audit logging, and queue systems.
DevOps / Cloud Engineer
Technology · AWS, IAM, S3, KMS, CI/CD, and logging/monitoring for a privacy-sensitive system.
Security Engineer
Technology · AppSec and cloud security, threat modeling, and vulnerability management.
Database Architect
Technology · Relational schema design with auditability, retention, and privacy-by-design.
UX / UI Designer
Technology · Accessible, trustworthy interfaces and clear form design.
Accessibility Engineer / WCAG Specialist
Technology · WCAG audits and assistive-technology testing.
QA Tester
Technology · Test plans, accessibility testing, and form-validation testing.
Analytics Engineer
Technology · Privacy-safe event analytics and dashboards.
IT Support / Systems Administrator
Technology · Identity management, device/security support, and helpdesk.
AI Workflow Reviewer
Technology · AI governance and human-in-the-loop design. Any assistive screening is for completeness and routing only — never automated rejection.
Executive Director / President
Operations · Nonprofit and scientific leadership, fundraising, and governance. CV, leadership statement, conflict disclosure, and board interview.
Chief Scientific Officer
Operations · Scientific leadership and trial-design oversight. Publications, prior regulatory/IRB work, and conflicts.
Development Director / Major Gifts Officer
Operations · Fundraising and donor stewardship with nonprofit compliance and no overclaiming.
Grants Manager / Grant Writer
Operations · Grant proposals, budget narratives, and grant-systems experience.
Controller / Nonprofit Accountant
Operations · Nonprofit accounting, restricted-fund handling, and Form 990 familiarity.
HR / People Operations Lead
Operations · Hiring systems, equal-opportunity and accommodation processes, and volunteer management.
General Counsel / Nonprofit Counsel
Legal & regulatory · Nonprofit, clinical-research, and privacy law. Bar status, practice areas, and conflicts.
Operations Coordinator / Office Manager
Operations · Scheduling, procurement, records, and day-to-day operations support.
Compliance & Privacy Officer
Operations · Privacy, security, and policy with incident-response experience.
Volunteer Coordinator
Operations · Volunteer screening, onboarding, and a safeguarding mindset.
Board Director Candidate
Advisory · Governance service via an appointment process with independence and conflict review, terms, and charters.
Scientific Advisory Board Member
Advisory · Reviews protocols and scientific direction. Expertise, conflicts, and a confidentiality agreement.
Ethics Advisory Board Member
Advisory · Bioethics and community-ethics perspective on participant protection and publication ethics.
Botanical Advisory Council Member
Advisory · Botanical and traditional-knowledge expertise with scope limits and brand/product conflict disclosure.
Community Advisory Board Member
Advisory · Community voice, languages, and plain-language review interest, with conflict disclosure.
Data & Safety Monitoring Board Member
Advisory · Independent review of accumulating safety and study-conduct data. Independence attestation and financial-conflict disclosure; appointed per trial.
Independent Safety Monitor
Advisory · Independent safety review and escalation for a study. Medical/safety background and independence attestation.
Compensation Committee Advisor
Advisory · Compensation benchmarking against comparable organizations, with conflict awareness.
Audit / Finance Committee Advisor
Advisory · Nonprofit audit and finance oversight with independence disclosure.
Conflict-of-Interest Review Panel Member
Advisory · Legal, ethics, or compliance background to review disclosures, with confidentiality.
Clinical Research Intern
Clinical · Mentored, educational exposure to clinical research operations. Not a substitute for paid staff.
Botanical Science Fellow
Botanical science · Mentored fellowship in plant/fungal science and chemistry, with a writing sample.
Data / Biostatistics Intern
Design & data · Mentored internship in data and statistics with a code sample.
Regulatory Affairs Intern
Legal & regulatory · Mentored internship in regulatory and compliance work with a writing sample.
Community Outreach Fellow
Community · Mentored fellowship in community engagement and education, within volunteer boundaries.
Nonprofit Operations Intern
Operations · Mentored internship across administration, finance, and fundraising operations.
Add your time to the bench
Tell us how you would like to help and how much time you have. It takes a few minutes, and it puts you on our radar for the right future role.
Join the Canopy