The HEALENAE Doctoral Network, funded by the EU HORIZON–MSCA programme, is offering 15 fully funded PhD positions in anthropology with a focus on health and environmental challenges across Africa and Europe. This unique doctoral network brings together leading universities including KU Leuven, Makerere University, University of Nairobi, Aarhus University, University of Oslo, University of Cape Town, and University of Edinburgh. The program is designed for early-career researchers interested in interdisciplinary, impactful research at the intersection of anthropology, health, and environment.

PhD candidates will engage in cutting-edge research topics such as youth mental health and gambling in environmental crises, toxic urban landscapes, climate migration and elderly care, zoonotic diseases, gendered cancer epidemics, and more. Each project is supervised by leading academics from both African and European institutions, ensuring dual or joint doctoral degrees and cross-continental collaboration. Students will benefit from generous funding for research activities, fieldwork (up to 12 months, often in Africa or Europe), travel, conferences, courses, and writing retreats.

Eligibility requires a recognized Master’s degree in anthropology or a related social sciences/humanities discipline, and applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree. The program follows MSCA mobility rules, meaning candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the recruiting organization for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the start date (September 1, 2026). Each university has its own application procedures, and candidates are encouraged to check individual project links for specific requirements and deadlines (most around March 1, 2026).

Research topics are diverse and include the metabolic impact of agricultural intensification, climate change migration and care for the elderly, toxic layering and environmental harms, and livestock management and zoonotic diseases. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, bridging medical and environmental anthropology, and offers opportunities for collaboration with NGOs, civil society organizations, and policy initiatives. Students will be enrolled at both a primary and a secondary university, spending at least one semester at a partner institution to enhance their academic and cultural experience.

This is an exceptional opportunity for those passionate about anthropology, health, and environmental science to contribute to globally relevant research and gain international academic experience. For more information and to apply, visit https://healenae.eu/phd-calls.