Assistant Professor in Suicidology

Join a global community of excellence

Are you a bold, creative researcher ready to shape the future of medical science? Karolinska Institutet (KI), one of the world’s foremost medical universities, is launching a major recruitment initiative in 2025. KI is seeking 20 outstanding early- career researchers to join us as Assistant Professors in a wide range of subject areas.

At KI, we foster a vibrant, international research environment where curiosity, innovation, and excellence thrive. We are looking for inspiring, driven, and visionary scientists with exceptional research achievements and the potential to become future leaders in their fields.   

Join the National Centre for Suicide Prevention (NASP) at KI as an Assistant Professor! Dive into cutting-edge suicide research from biological, psychological, social, and clinical perspectives and collaborate with top international and national groups.

NASP is based at the Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics (LIME) - an interdisciplinary environment where research and education intersect across medicine, social sciences, the humanities, and technology. NASP operates as a collaborative centre with the Stockholm County Health Care Services (SLSO), a part of Region Stockholm—the primary public healthcare provider in the capital region of Sweden. NASP also holds designation as a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for research and prevention in the field of suicide, reflecting its global reach and policy relevance.

We offer state-of-the-art research facilities, including access to Sweden's comprehensive health registers. While promoting scientific excellence, we also value work-life balance, offering flexible work hours, generous vacation and parental leave policies, and a supportive environment.

If you value high-quality, independent research and share our vision of reducing suicide through evidence-based science, we invite you to build your academic career with us.

What do we offer?

If you meet our requirements and propose a groundbreaking research project, we are prepared to employ you as an Assistant Professor for six years and support you with a generous funding package of SEK 9 million to cover your salary and other research costs. KI offers the opportunity to be promoted from a time-limited (six-year) position as Assistant Professor to permanent employment as Senior Lecturer. You can read more about it here.

At KI, you’ll be part of an interdisciplinary research community. Our researchers work across a wide range of fields and methodologies within medicine and health, creating rich opportunities for knowledge exchange and cross-disciplinary collaboration. You’ll also benefit from close connections with healthcare providers, ensuring your research remains closely aligned with real-world clinical practice.

As a state university, KI offers a comprehensive benefits package governed by collective agreements. These include annual salary reviews, supplementary insurance and opportunities to participate in institutional decision-making.

We also understand that a successful research career is supported by a strong personal foundation. That’s why we are committed to supporting not only our researchers but also their partners and families, recognising the vital role they play in your life and well-being.

Learn more about what KI and Sweden can offer, and the different calls!

Location: Solna

Description of the subject area 

At NASP, we study suicidal behavior, suicide prevention, and the impact of suicide on individuals and society, combining knowledge from psychology, psychiatry, sociology, public health, and other related disciplines to understand, prevent, and respond to suicide and suicidal behaviors. Our research focuses on the epidemiology of suicide, risk and protective factors, theoretical frameworks, preventative intervention strategies and their scientific evaluation.

Your mission 

This Assistant Professor position offers a unique opportunity to build a strong academic profile—primarily by developing your independence as a researcher, while also gaining valuable teaching and pedagogical experience.

You will be expected to:

-plan and conduct research projects in suicide prevention;

-generate ideas for new research projects and lead the application process for national and international research grants;

-analyse large datasets from national health registers and other databases;

-publish scientific articles in international journals;

-collaborate with national and international research groups;

-participate in the supervision of PhD and master's students.

Over time, you will have the opportunity and support from NASP to build your research team.

Eligibility requirements 

To be eligible for an appointment as Assistant Professor, you must demonstrate good scientific skills according to KI’s eligibility criteria as follows:

• A PhD (or equivalent degree) in a relevant subject area
• At least two peer-reviewed original scientific publications as first or last author, in addition to the doctoral thesis

Priority is given to those who were awarded a PhD (or attained equivalent competence) no more than seven years prior to the expiry of the deadline for the application.

Those who have been awarded a doctoral degree or attained equivalent research competence earlier will also be considered if there are special circumstances for absence from research (deductible time), such as: parental leave, long-term illness, positions of trust in trade union organizations or mandatory service in total defence.

The circumstances, dates and extent must be clearly specified in the application and verified by relevant documentation.

For this call, exceptions are made from all pedagogical requirements specified in the instructions regarding the Appointment procedure for teachers at KI. However, you must complete three weeks of higher education pedagogical courses in accordance with the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions’ recommendations, no later than two years after starting your employment as an Assistant Professor (unless you can certify that you have completed equivalent training before starting the position).

Candidates will be evaluated based on both scientific and pedagogical qualifications, with greater emphasis placed on scientific excellence. The full set of assessment criteria is outlined in the  instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure for Teachers at KI.

Particularly meritorious is:

• the scientific quality, originality, and feasibility of your research plan within the relevant subject area
• documented experience in research environments outside KI, with special consideration given to international research experience

These criteria reflect our commitment to fostering globally competitive researchers who contribute to high-impact science and academic excellence.

It is further meritorious that you have demonstrated: 

• PhD in a field particularly relevant to the research area (neurosciences, public health, psychology)
• Previous publications in suicide research or related fields
• Ability to receive financing for research projects in the field of suicide prevention
• Innovative ideas for suicide research
• Strong knowledge of advanced statistical methods
• Ability to work independently and in teams
• Experience with register-based research
• Experience in leadership and supervision roles

The criteria listed will form part of the overall assessment of the applicant. All criteria will be assessed but they should not individually be seen as requirements.

Offers will be extended to the best candidate based on an overall assessment of the applicant’s expertise and merits in relation to the subject area.

Application guidelines

All applicants are expected to follow the application instructions carefully. Failure to comply with the guidelines or misrepresentation of qualifications may negatively impact on the evaluation of your application.

The application should consist of the following documents, written in English:

• A personal letter (maximum 1 page)
• Application form, including your research project (the form can be found here)
• Up to ten published papers and optionally one manuscript, in PDF format
• PhD certificate
• If you have a PhD that is older than seven years and want to claim deductible time, you must attach a certificate of deductible time in Swedish or English.

Welcome to apply no later than September 2nd, 2025 (time 23.59 CEST).

For more information about the calls, conditions regarding funding and employment, see here.

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