PhD Research Fellows in Anthropology of Health and Environment in Africa and Europe (Dual Degree, Fully Funded) University of Oslo in Norway

The University of Oslo (UiO) is offering three fully-funded dual PhD fellowships in Social Anthropology, focusing on the anthropology of health and environment in Africa and Europe. These positions are part of the EU-funded HEALENAE doctoral training network, which brings together 15 PhD students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate on research projects addressing health and environmental challenges across continents. The successful candidates will be based at the Department of Social Anthropology at UiO and will also be admitted to the doctoral programme at either Makerere University (Uganda) or the University of Cape Town (South Africa), depending on the specific position.

Research areas for these fellowships include: (1) Metabolic impact: agricultural intensification and health transformations (UiO and UCT); (2) Infrastructures of toxic evidence and civic protection (UiO and MU); and (3) Epidemics and natural disasters as ‘business’ (UiO and MU). Candidates will conduct fieldwork in Africa and/or Europe, participate in annual training schools and writing retreats, and complete a six-month stay at the secondary university. The programme emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, international mobility, and public engagement.

Applicants must have a five-year university education equivalent to the Norwegian system, including two years (120 ECTS) at master's level in social anthropology or a closely related discipline. A strong academic record is required, with an average grade of A or B (ECTS scale) or 70% and above in percent-based grading systems, and the master's thesis must have been awarded an A or B or equivalent. A minimum of three months of ethnographic fieldwork experience is mandatory. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to complete writing projects within deadlines, willingness to conduct long-term ethnographic fieldwork, work interdisciplinarily and as part of a team, and possess excellent command of English (oral and written), meeting language requirements for both institutions. Experience with public engagement and African language skills are advantageous. Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Norway for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment and must not hold a PhD.

The fellowship is for three years and includes a competitive salary (NOK 550,800–595,800 per year), funding for research, travel, conferences, books, and equipment, and membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse pension scheme. Additional benefits include good welfare schemes and up to 1.5 hours per week of exercise during working hours. The working environment at UiO is inclusive, diverse, and internationally oriented, with a strong commitment to equality and accessibility.

To apply, candidates must submit their application in English via the Jobbnorge recruitment system, including a motivation/cover letter, CV, project proposal, educational certificates, documentation of English skills, and translations if needed. The project proposal should address one of the three research areas and demonstrate how the candidate’s work will contribute to the HEALENAE network. The application deadline is 1 March 2026, and successful candidates must be available to start by 1 September 2026. For further information, contact Professors Paul Wenzel Geissler or Ruth Jane Prince at the Department of Social Anthropology, University of Oslo.