The HEALENAE (Health and Environment in Africa and Europe) project is offering 15 fully funded PhD positions starting on 1 September 2026.

Funded by the European Union under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks framework, HEALENAE explores the complex relationships between health and environment across African and European contexts.

This interdisciplinary programme examines how environmental change, public health, governance, and social transformations intersect across regions and scales.

Application deadlines: 11–16 March 2026 (varies by host university)
Funding duration: 3 years (fully funded)

HEALENAE: Participating Universities

Doctoral candidates (DCs) will be recruited and registered at one of the following partner institutions:

• Aarhus University
• University of Oslo
• KU Leuven
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Nairobi
• University of Cape Town

Additional partner institutions include Makerere University and other associated collaborators.

Each successful candidate will:

• Enrol at the host university
• Spend 6 months at a partner institution
• Participate in structured cohort-based training
• Receive interdisciplinary supervision from multiple universities

HEALENAE: Research Themes and PhD Projects

The 15 PhD projects address urgent global questions at the intersection of health, environment, governance, and social transformation.

Project Topics

1. Metabolic impact: Agricultural intensification and health transformations
2. Climate change, migration and elderly care
3. Toxic layering in precarious environments
4. Livestock, biodiversity and zoonotic diseases
5. Epidemics, disease and state formation in Africa
6. Climate crisis, youth migration and health outcomes
7. Urban toxicity in extractive landscapes
8. Gendered cancer epidemics and environmental questions
9. Toxic evidence and civic protection infrastructures
10. Biosecurity: Food systems and animal disease
11. Non-communicable diseases and environmental repair
12. Urban commons, infrastructures and health
13. Youth mental health and gambling epidemics
14. Epidemics and natural disasters as economic opportunity
15. Vector-borne diseases: Expertise and response in Africa and Europe

Recruitment by University

Applicants must apply directly to the recruiting university for each project. Candidates may apply for multiple projects but must follow the individual application procedures for each institution.

Current Open Calls

• Aarhus University
  Recruiting 4 Doctoral Candidates (Projects 2, 6, 8, 10)
  Deadline: 15 March 2026
• University of Oslo
  Recruiting 3 Doctoral Candidates (Projects 1, 9, 14)
  Deadline: 1 March 2026
• KU Leuven
  Recruiting 2 Doctoral Candidates (Projects 7, 13)
  Deadline: 11 March 2026
• University of Edinburgh
  Recruiting 2 Doctoral Candidates (Projects 5, 15)
  Deadline: 16 March 2026
• University of Nairobi
  Recruiting 2 Doctoral Candidates (Projects 4, 12)
  Deadline: 15 March 2026
• University of Cape Town
  Recruiting 2 Doctoral Candidates (Projects 3, 11)
  (Project details to be released; proposal preparation time will be provided.)

Funding and Benefits

HEALENAE offers a competitive and comprehensive funding package, including:

• Full salary for 3 years
• Favourable pension contributions
• Dedicated research funding
• Fieldwork support (up to 12 months)
• Travel and conference participation funding
• Budget for books, equipment, and dissemination
• Structured doctoral training and writing retreats

Candidates will be enrolled at both their host and partner institutions and must complete a semester abroad at the secondary university.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Hold an internationally recognised Master’s degree (or equivalent) in anthropology or related social sciences/humanities
• Not hold a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment
• Meet university-specific admission requirements

Mobility Rule (Mandatory)

In line with Marie Skłodowska-Curie regulations, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the host country for more than 12 months within the 36 months preceding 1 September 2026.

Failure to meet this requirement will result in ineligibility.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

HEALENAE strongly promotes equal opportunity and diversity among doctoral candidates. Applications are particularly encouraged from:

• Candidates from all continents
• Applicants with disabilities
• Underrepresented minorities

Why Apply to HEALENAE?

This doctoral network offers:

• Interdisciplinary supervision across Africa and Europe
• Structured international mobility
• Cohort-based research training
• Generous research and fieldwork funding
• Engagement with urgent global health and environmental challenges

HEALENAE provides an exceptional opportunity for emerging scholars to develop innovative, cross-regional research at the forefront of environmental and health studies.

Apply Now

Interested candidates should carefully review the application guidelines for their chosen university and submit applications before the relevant March 2026 deadline.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE HERE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering these fully funded PhD positions. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.