They’re Looking for Volunteers to Live in the Mountains for Free: Here’s the Pay and What You’d Do

Key Points:

• A research project in Italy, called Mahe (Moderate Altitude Healthy Exposure), is recruiting healthy volunteers aged 18 to 40 to live at 2,300 meters in Stelvio National Park for four weeks, offering free accommodation, meals, and a €400 stipend.
• The study, running from August to September 2026, aims to fill the research gap on how the human body adapts to moderate altitude, which affects millions but is less studied compared to extreme altitudes above 3,000 meters.
• Researchers from Eurac Research will monitor physiological indicators including heart and lung function, metabolism, sleep, appetite, and endurance, with participants undergoing baseline and follow-up exams at lower altitudes.
• Volunteers can work remotely or relax during the stay but must comply with regular health monitoring; exclusions apply for chronic illness, heavy drinking, smoking, drug use, intensive training, or recent altitude exposure above 1,500 meters.
• The study seeks to provide baseline data on moderate altitude effects relevant to the general population, highlighting subtle but important physiological changes that differ from those at extreme elevations.