PhD positions open for ERC STARTING GRANT PROJECT

 

We are looking for 2 talented PhD candidates to join our organ trafficking research team and to work on our new project, "Walls of Secrecy and Silence in the Human Organ Trade: Facilitating, Concealing and Laundering Illegal Transplants".

We are seeking enthusiastic candidates with a Master’s in criminology, anthropology, sociology or a related field. Fieldwork research experience is a must.

 

 

This project constitutes a collaboration between Erasmus MC's Department of Internal Medicine, Section Nephrology and Transplantation and the Department of Law, Society and Crime of Erasmus University.

 

 

PhD candidate 1 will study how, where and why medical, and other legal businesses and persons, interact with ‘illegal’ players in facilitating illegal organ transplants. The research questions are:

1. Which ‘legal’ and ‘illegal’ organizations and persons facilitate illegal transplants?
2. How can the interactions and relationships between these institutions and persons be described?
3. What are the stages in the crime commission process of an illegal transplant procedure?
4. Where, why and how are illegal transplants prepared and carried out?
5. How and where can illegal transplant activity be identified, prevented or disrupted?

The full description for PhD Position 1 can be found here. You can apply for this position here. 

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PhD candidate 2 will study how medical, and other legal businesses and persons participate in concealing, laundering and sustaining illegal organ transplant activity. The research questions are:

1. Where, why and how are illegal organ transplants concealed and laundered?
2. Which ‘legal’ and ‘illegal’ institutions and persons conceal and launder illegal transplants?
3. Which types of laundering and concealment are identified?
4. What medical, social, cultural or other factors contribute to the trade’s sustainment?
5. How can concealment and organ laundering be identified, prevented or disrupted?

The full description for PhD Position 2 can be found here. You can apply for this position here.

The application deadline is 4th July 2025.
The starting date for both positions is 1st October 2025.