Assistant Professor in Basic Oral Sciences

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.   

The Department of Dental Medicine is world-renowned for its research and education in odontology and dental care. We are at the forefront of innovative translational oral research with the goal to improve oral health, prevent and treat oral diseases, and to understand connections with systemic oral health.

Based at Campus Flemingsberg, the University Dental Clinic and our research laboratories are based in the collaborative environment of ANA Futura supporting the latest technological innovations. We train dental hygienists, dentists, specialist dentists, researchers and provide complementary education for dentists trained outside the EU. In 2025, our dental program was ranked seventh in the world's universities on the QS Subject ranking for dentistry. Most of the students' clinical education takes place at the University Dental Clinic, which comprises of nine specialities.

We are environmentally certified according to ISO 14001:2015, which means we continuously work to reduce our negative environmental impact

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: Flemingsberg

Description of the subject area 

We are seeking an inspired and creative candidate in the area of basic oral sciences. The ideal candidate will have a PhD education and strong background in oral biology, related to dental research, oral health, and associated biomedical sciences. We are interested in receiving applications from all aspects linked to the subject that can include but not limited to: Biomaterials science, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Craniofacial development and related disorders, Hard tissue development, Biology and biomineralization, Saliva and salivary gland research, Mucosal tissue biology, Immunological and microbiological interactions, Cancer biology, Disease biomarkers or mechanisms with relevant biomedical methods, Novel technological approaches and devices, and Computational biology and the use of artificial intelligence.

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.

We are seeking a candidate with a strong oral biology competence to drive important basic dental science questions. You should be able to work independently but it also is important that you have good cooperation skills, show flexibility, initiative and social skills in a team environment.  You should aspire to establishing and leading your own research group as a principal investigator. You should also be interested in participating in the development and improvement of the education conducted at the department.

We are looking for a person who sees the big picture and can focus their efforts based on the needs of the business and the topic of basic oral sciences. When assessing the applicants, we place particular importance on research quality, output and proposal, pedagogical and personal qualities as well as the desire to develop to contribute to the academic environment.

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:

• Proven ability to secure independent research funding
• Supervision experience (first, second and third-cycle education)
• A strong research plan within the relevant subject area
• Multidisciplinary and international collaboration
• Leadership 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!