NIHR PhD studentships in Anthropology of Diagnostics for Infectious and non-communicable Diseases 2026

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Makerere University and the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Programme (MLW) are pleased to invite applications for two PhD studentships as part of an NIHR-funded programme of research.

The studentships are available to candidates who hold Ugandan or Malawian nationality, or individuals who have been resident in either country for at least three years prior to application.

The students will use ethnographic and qualitative research methods to contribute to understanding how the introduction and use of frontline diagnostics for self-testing and monitoring change the ways individuals and communities engage with health and how use can be optimised to promote health equity and people-centred self-care. Both studentships will contribute to the following objectives:

1. Define and document social and structural drivers of ‘rational use’ under conditions of stigma, outbreaks and lifestyle and risk management
2. Unpack the dynamic between empowerment through self-testing and engagement with public and private health providers
3. Explore uncertainty, trust and risk influencing decisions and intended and unintended beneficial and potentially harmful social and health consequences

In Malawi the student will focus on frontline diagnostics for HIV and diabetes and in Uganda the student will focus on frontline diagnostics for HIV and Ebola. The results of the data will contribute to co-producing toolkits for ‘rational use’ in different contexts and to promoting health equity across mainstream and marginalised groups in different rural and urban settings.

The exact focus of the PhD studentships will be finalised with the successful candidates depending on their interests and applicants are encouraged to contact project supervisors for an informal discussion prior to applying.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirments
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineSeptember 30, 2025
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
• City to studyLondon
• School to studyLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
• Course to studyHealth Sciences
• Eligible CountryMalawi , Uganda

Benefits

3 years of funding and a tax-free stipend aligned to local rates, full-time tuition fees at LSHTM and research and travel expenses.

Requirements

• Applicants must hold, or expect to obtain before the start of the PhD, a relevant Master’s degree (e.g. in Anthropology, Sociology, qualitative social science) awarded with good grades and to have a relevant, prior research experience in ethnographic or other in-depth qualitative research experience in Uganda or Malawi.
• The studentships are not available to candidates who do not hold Ugandan or Malawian nationality, unless they have been resident in either country for at least three years prior to application.

Application Documents

• Applicants must ensure all information and standard required documents outlined on the LSHTM ‘before you apply’ page is included/uploaded with the application, including:
  • Academic transcripts (official transcripts for all completed study; interim transcripts for any ongoing programmes of study);
  • a two-page Curriculum Vitae;
  • a brief research proposal (this should identify a specific research question and target research country, expanding on the scope provided in the advert, summarising (in brief) relevant background information [with no more than five key references] and outlining a proposed research methodology to address the research question proposed; references
• In addition, applicants for these scholarships must upload the following documents:
  • A personal statement outlining why you are interested in, and suited to, undertaking a PhD in this area at LSHTM and Makerere University/MLW respectively.

Check also:
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Application Deadline

How To Apply

To apply, submit a completed research degree application online using the LSHTM application portal by the scholarship deadline of 23:59 (BST) on 30 September 2025.

For more details, visit the scholarship webpage