NIHR PhD Studentships in Anthropology of Diagnostics (Infectious & Non-Communicable Diseases)

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. These studentships offer an exciting opportunity to contribute to a large collaborative, high-impact research programme focused on improving equitable access to diagnosis and monitoring of infectious and non-communicable disease in Malawi and Uganda, through examining 'rational use' of frontline diagnostics across different disease and country contexts.

About the studentships The studentships will start in January 2026 and come with 3 years of funding. The awards will cover a tax-free stipend aligned to local rates, full-time tuition fees at LSHTM, and research and travel expenses. The students will be based dually within the Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy at LSHTM, and either at the Center for Social Sciences Research on AIDS (CeSSRA), housed in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, School of Social Sciences, Makerere University in Uganda, or within the Public Health Research Group at the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Programme in Malawi respectively. The students will be based primarily in Uganda or Malawi, with time spent in the UK at LSHTM.

Research focus The studentships will provide students with opportunities to engage with theory and method in anthropology and the broader social sciences, and to contribute to the advancement of individual and community strategies for self-care through engagement with self-testing and self-sampling diagnostics. This work sits at the intersection of anthropology, public health and health systems, and offers a unique platform for developing skills in qualitative and mixed-methods research in international health.

Eligibility 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. Only those who meet all the eligibility criteria outlined in the call will be considered for the studentships. Interested applicants should review the full eligibility requirements before applying.

How to apply Detailed application instructions and further information are available through the 'See more details here' link on the official call page linked on this post. Applicants should follow the guidance provided there to prepare and submit their application. Only applicants who meet all the eligibility criteria will be considered for the studentships.

Research context Timely and accurate diagnosis is a cornerstone of effective health care, yet access to frontline diagnostics remains uneven, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. Understanding how diagnostics are actually used - when they are ordered, how results are interpreted and acted upon, and how patients experience testing - is critical to improving equitable access to care for both infectious and non-communicable diseases. Anthropological and social science perspectives are central to this work, shedding light on the social, cultural and health-system factors that shape the 'rational use' of diagnostics. The studentship research sits within a large, collaborative, NIHR-funded programme spanning Malawi and Uganda, giving students the opportunity to work across sites, engage with international research teams, and contribute directly to policy-relevant findings. Graduates of the programme are well positioned for academic careers in global health, medical anthropology and health systems research, in Africa and internationally.