PhD Studentship - One Health and Public Health History in West Africa, c.1850-2000

UCD School of History, College of Arts and Humanities, University College Dublin, Ireland, is pleased to announce a generously funded Ph.D. studentship specialising in

One health and public health history in West Africa, c.1850-2000

which will be supervised by Dr. Oluwaṣeun Otọsedẹ Williams, Assistant Professor in One Health and recently appointed Ad Astra Fellow at the School of History (people.ucd.ie/oluwaseun.williams).

Deadline: 1^st May 2026 by email to oluwaseun.williams@ucd.ie.

The studentship is open to EU and non-EU candidates and is for a maximum of four years, renewable each year, subject to satisfactory progress. The award includes full tuition fee waiver, a PhD stipend of €25,000 per annum, and €4,000 per annum towards research costs of the Ph.D. We anticipate that the successful candidate will start in September 2026.

Please submit the following application materials by email:

• Personal statement and CV as one document
• Writing sample (e.g. an essay or section of MA dissertation)
• Two academic references
• A proposal (1000-1500 words plus indicative bibliography).

The Selection Panel will shortlist candidates for interview, likely to take place in the last week of May. Successful applicants will be informed by email.

For the application procedure please see the relevant school guidelines below. The outcome of this competition will be communicated directly to all applicants. 

Specialisation: One health and public health history in West Africa, c.1850-2000

Proposals for a Ph.D. project in the history of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Anglophone West Africa are welcomed, focusing on one or more NTDs in West Africa, including (but not limited to) Schistosomiasis, Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis and Human African Trypanosomiasis. Proposals that incorporate a comparative approach between or among different West African colonies/countries are encouraged.

In addition to a competitive stipend, the successful candidate also will have access to an annual research budget of €4,000 for archival research in relevant collections abroad or related research expenses.

The UCD School of History stands as one of Europe’s premier centres for historical research, offering a vibrant research community. The School of History is well-connected through its active engagement with international partners and a broad array of UCD research centres and institutes. The successful candidate will join a robust graduate community of early-career medical humanities scholars, from MA students in the History of Welfare and Medicine in Society to postgraduates and postdoctoral fellows in connected schools and research hubs including the UCD Centre for the History of Medicine in Ireland, the UCD One Health Centre, and the UCD Humanities Institute. As such, interdisciplinary work is welcomed, and candidates from all relevant areas of West African studies are encouraged to apply.

Advert information