PhD Fellow in Anthropology: Bushmeat, Infrastructure and Zoonotic Risk in Africa–China Contact Zones UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Norway

UiT The Arctic University of Norway invites applications for a fully funded PhD fellowship in Anthropology, focusing on bushmeat, infrastructure, and zoonotic risk in Africa–China contact zones. This position is part of the ERC-funded project 'Zoonosis: Zoonotic Anthropology and Multispecies Infrastructures along China’s Belt and Road,' led by Dr. Richard Fraser. The successful candidate will join the Department of Social Sciences at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, based in Tromsø, Norway.

The project investigates how China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is reshaping multispecies relations, infrastructures, and public health landscapes across regions connected to China through trade, migration, and ecological interconnection. Drawing on anthropology, political ecology, and multispecies ethnography, the research explores how zoonotic risk and biosecurity are understood, governed, and experienced in diverse local contexts. Fieldwork will be conducted in multiple regions associated with the BRI, with a particular focus on animal infrastructures, markets, migration, and China’s expanding health diplomacy. Suggested field sites include Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, but candidates may propose alternative, well-justified locations that align with the project’s comparative aims.

The PhD candidate will study bushmeat markets, infrastructure, and zoonotic risk in African regions affected by the BRI. The research will examine how infrastructural development—especially roads, mining, and urbanisation—shapes hunting, trade, and consumption of bushmeat, and how these changes impact human-animal interactions and zoonotic spillover. The project emphasises the multispecies and socio-ecological dimensions of bushmeat markets, including cultural beliefs, trade networks, and local responses to zoonotic risks. Main tasks include conducting long-term ethnographic fieldwork, documenting multispecies relations and trade practices, analysing the influence of infrastructure on bushmeat markets and disease risk, and producing a doctoral dissertation aligned with the ERC project’s interdisciplinary goals. The candidate will also contribute to multimodal research outputs such as photography, short films, and sound ethnography.

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in Social, Cultural, or Visual Anthropology (or a closely related field) before starting the position. Those in the final stages of their master’s may apply if the thesis is submitted for evaluation by the application deadline. Required documents include a cover letter, CV, diplomas, transcripts, proof of English proficiency, references, master’s thesis, and a project description (maximum 5 pages). Experience or strong commitment to long-term ethnographic fieldwork is essential. Desired qualifications include background in multispecies ethnography, political ecology, anthropology of health, regional research experience in Africa or other BRI-affected regions, and relevant local language skills. Admission to the PhD programme requires a bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) and a master’s degree (120 ECTS) or an integrated master’s (300 ECTS), with a master’s thesis of at least 30 ECTS (or 20 ECTS for integrated master’s). A grade point average of B or equivalent is required. Applicants with foreign education must meet Norwegian equivalency standards.

The fellowship is for three years and includes full funding for fieldwork, travel, and dissemination. PhD Fellows receive a salary of 550,800 NOK/year with a 3% yearly increase, flexible working hours, a state collective pay agreement, and membership in the National Insurance Scheme, which includes health care services. UiT offers a vibrant international research environment, supervision and mentorship from senior anthropologists, and opportunities to develop multimodal and collaborative research methods. The university is committed to promoting equality, gender balance, and diversity among employees and students, and provides an inclusive and safe working environment.

Applications must be submitted via Jobbnorge by the deadline of 26 April 2026. Only applications submitted through the portal will be assessed. For further information, contact Principal Investigator Dr. Richard Fraser ([email protected]), Deputy Head of Department Stine Willum Adrian ([email protected]), or Senior Advisor Rita Johansen ([email protected]). More practical information about working and living in Norway is available at uit.no/staffmobility.

This is an excellent opportunity for candidates interested in the intersection of anthropology, ecology, public health, and global infrastructure development to contribute to cutting-edge research in a supportive and internationally oriented academic environment.