Professor in translational immunology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

- Focus on research

The Department

The Department of Medicine, Karolinska Huddinge, is one of the fastest growing clinical departments at Karolinska Institutet (KI). The department is home to translational research in several areas of internal medicine, including hematology and infectious medicine. Structurally, it is built around seven units harboring a total of about 60 research groups, whose core activities are research, PhD education and basic education in several medical undergraduate programs.

Field of research

Immunology is a fast growing research area at KI and is also attracting increased attention clinically at the Karolinska University Hospital. The topic is broad and encompasses immunology within infectious diseases, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, transplantation and cellular therapies against cancer. One of the most dynamic fields concerns complicated immunodeficiencies in children and adults, often associated with high morbidity and mortality. This area is quickly expanding as a result of the developments in molecular and cellular platforms for genetic diagnostics, which includes targeted and whole genome sequencing and improved use of functional cellular assays. An increased understanding of basic immunological mechanisms is now needed to make sure that new diagnostics and therapeutic applications are both efficient and safe. This development requires intensified cutting-edge basic research in the area, which has the potential to bridge to clinical activity in translational settings.

Duties

The employment is focused on basic research and the department is looking for a well-established, internationally renowned scientist who can develop and strengthen the rapidly growing field of diagnostic immunology at Karolinska Institutet. The new professor is expected to establish a scientific node with a potential to dock into the clinical activities of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine at the Karolinska University Hospital, as well as into the activities of the newly established Genomic Medicine Center Karolinska (GMCK). We are looking for a person who can develop diagnostic platforms and techniques for already identified diseases, characterize new disease mechanisms and identify new disease entities in the field of clinical immunodeficiency. Experience of functional methodology is important for the position, in addition to deep knowledge of genomic techniques critical to the diagnostic platforms used.

The clinical Function Area Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine is already now involved in diagnostics of immunodeficiency at the Karolinska University Hospital, and it is rapidly expanding its activities in this field. This expansion is planned in close collaboration with Karolinska Institutet. The present professorship may therefore be combined with a suitable clinical position, if both the candidate and the clinical partner considers this an advantage for the position, and for the field.

Finally, we consider it important that the successful candidate takes part in strengthening both basic undergraduate education and supervision of PhD students in this new dynamic field. The department also considers it important that the activities conducted by the successful candidate are well grounded in a strong international research network.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for employment as Professor the applicant must have demonstrated both research- and teaching expertise, as well as management- development- and collaborative skills. (see the instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure for Teachers at Karolinska Institutet).

The applicant must show scientific excellence and activity in the area of immunology, with very high competence within both cellular and genetics-based research. The documentation strengthening these competences must include high-profile publications, scientific honors and awards and the presence of substantial research grants obtained in competition. Successful supervision of PhD students and postdocs is important as well as a strong international network. The candidate must have a current high potential to develop scientifically, and must express a strong will to develop the surrounding research environment, as well as documented leadership experience.

Bases of assessment

The Professorship has a focus on research. The assessment will weight qualifications as follows: research expertise (3), educational expertise (2), leadership-, development- and collaboration expertise (2).

Documented experience of clinical immunological diagnostics and, in particular, own developments of such activities, are considered an additional qualification, as well as an expressed ambition to interact with the clinical milieu.

The appointee must have undergone 10 weeks (or equivalent competence) of higher education training in teaching in accordance with the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions recommendations for qualification as a higher education teacher, or having otherwise obtained equivalent knowledge. If the person appointed for the position is lacking such education at the time of the employment, the appointee must undergo such education during the first two years of employment.

After an overall assessment of the expertise and merits of the candidates, Karolinska Institutet will judge which of the candidates that have the best potential to contribute to a positive development of the activities at KI.

Application process

An application must contain the following documents in English curriculum vitae, qualifications and description of planned research, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet’s qualifications portfolio (http://ki.se/qualificationsportfolio).

The applications will be reviewed by external reviewers in English. All the submitted documents shall therefor be written in English.

The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.