Assistant Professor in tumor immunology with focus on B cells

Colorectal cancer is a major global threat to human health. The Mjösberg research group at KI has a long history of immunological studies of the healthy, inflamed and cancerous intestine in humans. The group has a unique collaboration with colorectal surgeons at Karolinska University Hospital, enabling translational studies with the aim of improving the treatment and outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer. Within our research group you will find an opportunity to use unique data sets to improve our understanding of colorectal cancer and contribute to world-leading research. The work will be performed at the Center for Infection Medicine at Karolinska Institutet, which has a stimulating research environment with the vision of being an internationally leading translational research center in immunology. We offer an engaging interdisciplinary research environment where you may contribute to high quality research on an internationally competitive level.

Your mission 

We now wish to appoint an assistant professor to lead research on the role of intratumoral lymphocytes, particularly B cells, in human colorectal cancer. The position is research-oriented, and the successful candidate is expected to take overall responsibility for this defined research direction in collaboration with the rest of the group. The work will be initially focused on investigations of B cells in primary and metastatic colorectal cancer, exploring their anti-tumor and antigen-recognition features and crosstalk with other cells in the tumor microenvironment. The techniques used will be single-cell analyses on the transcriptional, protein and spatial level, as well as development of molecular techniques for gain- and loss-of-function studies of specific transcripts.

This position as an assistant professor is a fixed-term position of 4 years with the right to be considered for a promotion to associate professor.

Eligibility requirements 

We are looking for a person with a doctoral degree in immunology, cell biology, or molecular biology/life sciences with publications in internationally recognized, peer-reviewed scientific journals. The person should be scientifically driven with strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate and work productively in a translational team. The candidate should also have a strong, documented background in single-cell analyses including bioinformatic analyses, as well as experience in flow cytometry and functional immunological analyses of patient material. In the recruitment process, we will place particular emphasis on academic excellence, documented research competence, strong commitment, and excellent communication skills. We attach great importance to personal suitability. Fluency in English is a requirement. Previous receipt of research funding is considered a merit. The successful candidate is expected to apply for research grants and supervise doctoral students as main or co-supervisor, as well as other students. We put great emphasis on personal suitability.

Those eligible for employment as an Assistant Professor are individuals who have been awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence. Preference should be given to those who were awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence no more than seven years, normally, prior to the expiry of the application period for the position as assistant professor. 

Those who have been awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence earlier may however be considered if special grounds exist.  

Special grounds refer to: 

• parental leave, 
• positions of trust in trade union organizations 
• mandatory service in the total defense forces 
• long-term illness 

Ground, dates and extent must be clearly specified in the application and verified with relevant documentation. 

Appointment to the position of Assistant Professor requires good scientific skills and good pedagogical skills. (See the instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure for Teachers at Karolinska Institutet). 

It is a requirement that you have completed three weeks of courses on teaching in higher education as indicated in the recommendations of the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institution. If you lack such education at the time of employment, you must undergo such education during the first two years of employment. 

Bases of assessment 

Scientific expertise will be most important when assessing applicants.

For employment as Assistant Professor at Karolinska Institutet, the eligibility requirements and assessment criteria stated in the Instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure are applied in relation to established profile of employment. 

It is particularly meritorious that you have demonstrated 

It is meritorious that you have demonstrated 

After an overall assessment of the expertise and merits of the applicants in relation to the subject area, Karolinska Institutet will determine which of them has the best potential to contribute to a positive development of the activities at KI. 

What do we offer? 

A creative, international and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Here, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several good benefits through our collective agreement.  

Location: Flemingsberg

Choose to work at KI – Ten reasons why

Application

We prefer that Your application is written in English, but You can also apply in Swedish. An application must contain the following documents: Resumé, qualifications and description of planned research, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet’s qualifications portfolio.

Welcome to apply at the latest 2025-06-13

The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system

Particular assessment for promotion to Senior Lecturer

An Assistant Professor employed in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 4 Section 12a shall be promoted to Senior Lecturer if he or she is eligible for an employment as Senior Lecturer in accordance with the Instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure for Teachers at Karolinska Institutet and is assessed to be suitable for such employment in accordance with the assessment criteria that KI has decided should be applied when being promoted to Senior Lecturer. The assessment criteria stated in the Instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure for Teachers at Karolinska Institutet that was valid at the time of appointment as Assistant Professor will be applied when applying for promotion to Senior Lecturer.  Current assessment criteria is found here. Such promotion results in a permanent position as Senior Lecturer. 

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