Doctoral candidate in project 4 - Marie Cox

My name is Marie Cox, and I am a doctoral candidate in HEALENAE’s Project 4: Epidemics, disease, and state formation in Africa. I completed my BA in Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University before earning an MSc with distinction in Conflict, Security, and Development at the University of Edinburgh. Throughout my studies, I have been fascinated by questions of governance and state-building, with a particular focus on how institutions and communities respond to crises. These interests have gradually led me toward the study of global health and its role in political and social life.

My doctoral research explores how epidemics and infectious disease preparedness have influenced state formation and governance in Uganda. Epidemic preparedness is often understood as a public health issue. However, I examine it as a form of governance that influences how states build authority, collaborate with international organizations, and engage with local communities. My project investigates how gendered forms of care and community health work are not only essential to epidemic preparedness but also shape how public health systems and state authority are encountered in everyday life.

By combining historical research, policy analysis, and ethnographic fieldwork, I aim to better understand how public health initiatives affect governance in practice and how these processes are experienced by the people involved. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to conduct fieldwork in Uganda and to learn from the diverse researchers, practitioners, and communities engaged in epidemic preparedness.