Postdoctoral Researcher in Psychoneuroimmunology

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

Join a dynamic and inclusive research group at the forefront of psychoneuroimmunology, where we investigate the interplay between behavior, brain functions, and the immune system. Our interdisciplinary team bridges psychology, neuroscience, and immunology, with strong collaborations across experimental and clinical contexts. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will have the opportunity to develop your own research profile, contribute to cutting-edge science, and grow within a supportive and internationally connected environment.

Your mission

Sickness behavior refers to the coordinated set of behavioral changes and subjective experiences that occur during acute infections. In the field of psychoneuroimmunology, it is assumed that sickness behavior supports immune function as part of an adaptive response. Yet, this hypothesis has not been tested in humans. The aim of the current project is to examine how sickness behavior influences immune responses during a common cold, induced under controlled laboratory conditions.

The PI of the project is Associate Prof Julie Lasselin. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with the Emergency Medicine Research Center led by Associate Prof Daniel Wilhelms, at Linköping University. Part of the data collection can be conducted at Linköping University.

The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for developing and coordinating the project, including writing ethics applications and study preregistration, leading participant recruitment and data collection, conducting statistical analyses, and disseminating findings in recognized international journals. The role may also include contributing to the preparation of research grant applications to support future studies.

In addition, the postdoc is expected to participate in mentoring activities by supervising Master's and/or PhD students and will be encouraged to take an active role in the group’s collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment. There will also be opportunities to develop independent research ideas related to the project and to engage in national and international collaborations.

Your profile

Particular attention will be given to scientific skills in the relevant research area. The applicant is expected to hold a PhD in psychology, neuroscience, immunology, or a related field, with documented experience in psychoneuroimmunology. Scientific skills should be demonstrated through original research and peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals within the field.

The successful candidate should have practical experience conducting behavioral studies with human participants, ideally in relation to immune or stress-related processes. Experience with immune activation paradigms or assessment of inflammatory markers is a strong merit. Prior work in an immunological laboratory setting will be considered an additional merit.

The applicant should have strong analytical skills, a high degree of autonomy in managing research tasks, and the ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams. Skills in scientific writing and oral communication are essential. Experience in supervising students is an advantage. Proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Basic knowledge of Swedish is beneficial.

To be eligible for employment as a postdoctor, a PhD or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a Swedish PhD is required. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision. Completion of your doctoral degree within the last three years is considered an advantage. If there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. At Karolinska Institutet, 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 benefits through our collective agreement.

Location: Solna

Read more about the Department of Clinical Neuroscience
Read more about the research group you will be part of

Application

An employment application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:

• PhD certificate
• A complete resumé, including date of the thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions, and committee work
• A complete list of publications
• A summary of current work (no more than one page)

Welcome to apply at the latest July 31, 2025.

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

Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all!