Helle Samuelsen

Helle Samuelsen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Social Sciences. She has been a core faculty member since 2020 and previously served as Head of Department from 2007 to 2019. Her academic career spans roles in both anthropology and international health at the University of Copenhagen, with extensive fieldwork across West and East Africa.

• Ph.D., Institute of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen (1999)
• Mag.scient. in Anthropology (Medical Anthropology), University of Copenhagen (1987)
• A-levels in Mathematics and Social Science, Næstved Gymnasium (1978)

Her research centers on medical anthropology, global health, health systems, epidemics, and development, with a strong regional focus on Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, and Tanzania. She investigates how political instability, climate change, and fragile health systems intersect, particularly in rural African contexts. Her work often explores the lived experiences of health workers, patients, and communities.

Her recent publications reveal a thematic evolution towards climate change adaptation in fragile states, epidemic preparedness, and gendered decision-making in climate resilience. These works combine ethnographic depth with policy relevance, appearing in leading journals and handbooks in anthropology and global health.

• Carlsberg Senior Research Fellowship at Churchill College, Cambridge University (2003)

She has supervised several PhD and Master’s students and is actively involved in significant research projects, including as Principal Investigator on the DANIDA-funded Promoting Climate Change Adaptation in a Context of Multiple Crises (2024–2029) and the EMERGING EPIDEMICS project (2018–2024). She has also contributed to capacity-building initiatives and editorial roles, such as serving as Editor of Tidsskriftet Antropologi and on the board of the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS). Her work bridges academic research with public engagement, particularly evident in her media contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Samuelsen is affiliated with the research group Health and Life Conditions and conducts fieldwork in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Tanzania, and other African countries. She is fluent in English and French.