Early Career SILC Researcher Award 2026 for Dr. Samia Akhter-Khan

Rüdersdorf, 15 July 2026

Dr. Samia Akhter-Khan is the recipient of the Early Career SILC Researcher Award 2026. The Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC) presented their international prize on 17 June. Endowed with US $ 1,000, the award honors studies on global loneliness research.

The newly introduced research award targets young scientists whose work explores social isolation, loneliness and connection (SILC). Award criteria focus on studies in the context of the global south.  

Dr. Samia Akhter-Khan is an academic staff member and active in the field of healthcare research, where she heads a team of young researchers on ”Climate, Aging, and Relationships” (CARE). Key research topics are loneliness and social relations in the context of climate change, Global Mental Health as well as healthy aging in
Southeast Asia.

Background information on GILC: The Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC) is an international alliance of non-profit organizations. They aim to fight the urgent global problems of loneliness and social isolation via sensitization campaigns, research, political change and support for evidence-based methods.