2 PhD opportunities – human disease avoidance – Montpellier (France)
Two funded PhD positions are available for October 2026 in Montpellier (South of France), jointly hosted by the Institute of Evolutionary Sciences of Montpellier (ISEM) and the Centre for Environmental Economics of Montpellier (CEEM).
Both projects investigate the mechanisms underlying human behavioral and physiological defenses against disease. They focus on how the perception of disease-related cues shapes avoidance behaviors and immune responses, and how these processes vary across individuals. The projects are interdisciplinary, at the interface of evolutionary biology, psychology, and immunology, and rely on experimental approaches in humans.
1. Sensory cues of disease and social avoidance
This 3-year PhD is part of the SOCIAL-EXPO project (CNRS; PI: Arnaud Tognetti), which aims to integrate behavioral, physiological, and immune responses to subtle cues of disease. The project combines experimental behavioral paradigms with physiological and immunological measures ( see link below for more info).
Supervisors: Marie Charpentier, Camille Ferdenzi & Arnaud Tognetti
Start date: October 2026
Application deadline: May 4, 2026
Link: https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/Doctorant/UMR5211-ARNTOG-001/Default.aspx?lang=EN
2. Disgust, food avoidance and immune responses
This 4-year PhD is part of the ExposUM Doctoral Nexus program (University of Montpellier). The project investigates how disgust sensitivity and perception of foodborne pathogen risk influence food avoidance behaviors and immune responses, using experimental approaches in human participants. More information here: https://www.umontpellier.fr/en/articles/exposum-doctoral-nexus-sujets-de-these-2026-ouverts-a-candidatures (see second thesis of the SENS-ALIM project).
Supervisors: Marie Charpentier, Cécile Sarabian & Arnaud Tognetti
Start date: October 2026
Application deadline: May 20, 2026
Link: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/422430
Informal inquiries are welcome (arnaud.tognetti@montpellier.fr)

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