Call for Application-Dual PhD degree between University of Nairobi and Aarhus University, Denmark
Dual PhD degree between University of Nairobi and Aarhus University, Denmark
The University of Nairobi (UoN), in collaboration with Graduate School at Arts, Faculty of Arts, University of Aarhus (AU), invites applications for one fully funded 3-year PhD fellowship in anthropology starting on 1 September 2026. The positions are funded by the EU Research and Innovation programme Horizon Europe, under a grant by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN). The successful candidates must commence their PhD degree programme on 1 September 2026.
Background HEALENAE
UoN and AU have embarked on the collaborative project HEALENAE: Health and Envi- ronment in Africa and Europe run by a consortium of universities: Aarhus University (Denmark), University of Cape Town (South Africa), University of Edinburgh (UK), KU Leu- ven (Belgium), University if Nairobi (Kenya), Oslo University (Norway) and Makerere Univer- sity (Uganda).
The HEALENAE Doctoral Network offers a cross-continental, innovative, interdisciplinary, and multi-sectoral anthropological approach to pressing, interrelated health and environmen- tal challenges across contemporary Africa and Europe. HEALENAE seeks to develop a strong interdisciplinary network that is based in anthropology, global one health, environ- mental and regional studies, to examine connections, correspondences and new chal- lenges for health and environmental contexts in and between Africa and Europe.
By exploring specific topic areas of health and environment through long-term anthropological fieldwork, the research will provide insights into and enable future mitigations of challenges related to current changes of demographics, disease patterns, climate and environmental harm, accelerated urbanisation, unequally distributed growth, refugee challenges, gender and generational dynamics. The HEALENAE Doctoral Candidates will collaborate across projects to bring together insights anchored in different sectors and countries. They will analyse these
in relation to each other and create clarity of interlinkages between specific health and envi- ronmental domains in an intercontinental perspective. Together, approaches from an- thropology, post-colonial and regional studies on health and environment offer unique research perspectives and methods providing grounded, bottom-up un- derstandings of how environments and health issues play out in everyday set- tings.
The research network offers an academically stimulating and interdisciplinary working envi- ronment, an innovative training programme that allows the PhD fellows to obtain specialist knowledge on a specific research topic as well as transferable skills that can be employed in academic as well as non-academic institutions. The HEALENAE PhD education includes one year of fieldwork in Africa and/or Europe, annual training schools and writing retreats and 6 months stay with the secondary university. HEALENAE also offers an attractive salary as well as funding for research, travel, conference participation and dissemination, books and equip- ment.
The HEALENAE project strives equal opportunity for diversity among the DCs. We encourage candidates from all continents, applicants with disabilities and minorities to apply. The fel- lowship will include a salary taxable under national laws as outlined in the table on p.118 of the MSCA Work Programme 2023-2025: wp-2-msca-actions_horizon-2023-2024_en.pdf
Available position
HEALENAE will recruit altogether 15 PhD fellows, referred to as Doctoral Candidates (DCs). The Department of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi (Kenya) and Aarhus University invite applications for 1 dual PhD fellowship in the field of anthropology where the two universities have mutual strengths and can offer excellent research environ- ments. The available position is hosted by University of Nairobi (Primary University) and Aar- hus University (Secondary University)
This will be a one fully-funded 3-year PhD fellowship in anthropology of health and environ- ment under the broad topic, Livestock and natural resource management: biodiver- sity and zoonotic diseases. The successful candidate must commence their PhD degree programme by September 1, 2026.
Project 4: Livestock and natural resource management: biodiversity and zoono- tic diseases
Supervisors: Salome Bukachi (UON) and Ciara Kierans (AU)
Requirements
Interested candidates should submit an application including the following documents:
Motivation/cover letter (statement of motivation and research interests, max one A4 page of 2,400 characters including spaces)
- CV (including a complete list of education, positions, publications and other qualifying activities)
- Project description outlining how the candidate envisages completing the work to be undertaken during the course of the term of appointment.
The overall project description (excl. list of project literature/bibliography/refer- ence list and timetable) must not exceed 12,000 characters including spaces, tables, diagrams, footnotes, endnotes and illustrations (5 A4 pages of 2,400 characters each)
- Project literature/reference list
- Timetable
- Cover sheet
- Copies of educational certificates (Bachelor and Master’s degrees). The diplomas or di- ploma supplement/transcript of records must state: name of university, education (Bachelor or Master), duration (number of years, full-time), courses, marks and (if given) ECTS credits.
Please see a detailed description of the requirements for the application in the guide for the application facility: https://african-studies.uonbi.ac.ke/programs/doctor-philosophy-anthro- pology.
University of Nairobi Admission Requirements
The following applicants shall be eligible for admission:
A holder of a Master’s degree in Anthropology or any other Social Science discipline from the University of Nairobi.
- A holder of a Master’s degree or equivalent academic qualifications in Anthropology or any other Social Science discipline from other institutions recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate
- A holder of a Master’s degree in any other discipline from the University of Nairobi, or any other institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate, who provides evidence of so- cial science based study and research.
Applicants can be of any nationality. We encourage applicants who have African language skills and relevant experience outside the academy. However, in order to be eligible, candidates must have not resided more than 12 of the last 36 months in Kenya before the recruitment date.
The Doctoral Candidate is required to spend time at each university, have a supervisor at each institution and will receive a dual degree issued by each university.
The Doctoral Candidate is expected to take part in the HEALENAE dual degree PhD pro- gramme and to complete the project within the set fellowship period. Since the doctoral stu- dent will receive a dual degree, his/her research project will be subject to an evaluation meet- ing according to the standards of both University of Nairobi and Aarhus University. The format of the evaluation will be a public defence at AU and an oral examination before an examination committee (Viva Voce) at the University of Nairobi.
The details regarding time spent at each university, supervision, evaluation as well as other legal matters will be specified in a contract prior to the start of the PhD project.
At UoN, Department of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies offers a 3-year PhD pro- gramme in Anthropology, focused on coursework, research, and thesis. In addition, students are expected to publish 2 peer-reviewed articles. Students are expected to spend 1 year each on coursework, fieldwork and thesis/publication. Courses include research methods, theory, applied anthropology, and anthropology in Africa. Seminars are based on trends in anthropol- ogy, proposal development, data analysis, and writing and publication. DCs can join these online seminars. The department has a strong tradition in cultural anthropology (incl. medical and environmental anthropology) and gender studies, and in recent years, one health, envi- ronmental health and the commons have become key research areas.
At Aarhus University currently, 245 PhD students are enrolled at the Graduate School, Arts. Aarhus University is a modern, academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 44,500 students and 11,500 employees, and has an annual budget of EUR 830 million. Over the course of the past decade, the university has consolidated its position in the top 100 on the most influential rankings of universities world-wide. Learn more at www.au.dk/en.
Enrolment at University of Nairobi
The PhD students at University of Nairobi have to adhere to the set philosophy and dictates of the program. Further description of the program can be found on the website: https://african- studies.uonbi.ac.ke/programs/doctor-philosophy-anthropology.
The PhD scholar will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Department of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi. In general, the student is expected to meet all the program requirements including attending all the relevant coursework at the University of Nairobi.
Application:
If you have general questions to the PhD application process, please contact DAGAS adminis- trator, iagas@uonbi.ac.ke.
If you have questions about the PhD position, please contact supervisor Salome Bukachi, sa- lome. bukachi@uonbi.ac.ke.
If you have questions about the EU requirements or the HEALENAE program, please contact Mia Korsbaek, korsbaek@cas.au.dk
The application must be submitted in English
Applications for the PhD fellowship should be submitted to the administrative email address: iagas@uonbi.ac.ke.
The HEALENAE project will conduct interviews with shortlisted applicants.
Successful candidates for the PhD fellowship will proceed to apply for admission via University of Nairobi enrolment online system.
Guidelines for the application system: https://african-studies.uonbi.ac.ke/index.php/pro- grams/application.uonbi.ac.ke
Deadline for applications: March 1, 2026, at 23.59 East African time (EAT).
See all HEALENAE PhD positions: www.healenae.eu
