Assistant Professor in molecular or translational medicine, up to two positions

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.   

At the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH), we offer a vibrant and collaborative research environment led by internationally renowned scientists in a broad area of research including stem cell biology, immunology, infectious diseases, hematology and cancer, gastroenterology and hepatology, cardiovascular research, nutrition, metabolism and diabetes, and aging. Our state-of-the-art facilities enable cutting-edge basic, translational, and clinical research in integrated settings. We take pride in our diverse and accomplished faculty, which includes numerous award-winning investigators and rising stars. As part of our department, you will benefit from strong academic mentorship, outstanding infrastructure, and access to a modern preclinical animal facility and rich clinical cohorts as well as biobank resources. We are deeply committed to supporting the next generation of researchers in building successful, independent careers in a globally competitive setting.

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 or 12] 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. Sweden is known for being a family-friendly country, offering a high quality of life, generous parental leave, and excellent childcare and education systems — creating a welcoming environment for both researchers and their families

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

Location: Flemingsberg

Description of the subject area 

The molecular medicine track is dedicated to uncovering fundamental mechanisms of disease at the cellular and molecular level. Researchers in this area apply advanced technologies in genomics, proteomics, single-cell analysis, and molecular imaging to explore both basic and pathophysiological processes across a wide range of biomedical research areas. The environment at MedH fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and provides immediate access to state-of-the-art core facilities for molecular and cellular analysis. This track is ideal for researchers aiming to generate transformative insights into basic biology that lay the foundation for enhanced molecular understanding of biological processes and potential therapeutic innovation relevant to human disease.  The translational medicine track bridges discoveries in basic science with clinical application, aiming to understand disease mechanisms, improve diagnostics, treatments, prevention and patient outcomes. At MedH translational research is closely integrated with clinical care, leveraging access to large patient cohorts, longitudinal biobanks, and hospital based as well as AI/digital research infrastructure. This track emphasizes biomarker discovery, therapeutic and preventive innovation, and clinical trial design across key departmental research areas. This is particularly suited for candidates who aspire to combine basic science with patient-centered innovation from bench to bedside.

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.

At MedH, you are expected to establish and lead a cutting-edge research group in the field of molecular or translational medicine, within one of our five research units (Department of Medicine, Huddinge) that most closely aligns with your area of expertise. You will develop a focused and original research program with strong scientific potential and international visibility. A key responsibility is to secure external research funding and build collaborations both within and beyond the department. You are expected to supervise PhD students and postdoctoral researchers as part of growing a vibrant and high-performing research environment. Your work will contribute to the strategic development of the department’s scientific profile. This position offers a unique opportunity to launch and expand your research career in a world-class academic setting in one of KI’s largest and most research-intensive departments.

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

• A highly productive and successful postdoctoral period with a clear scientific focus and strong momentum for future independent research
• Publications as first or senior author in internationally well recognized, peer-reviewed journals of the highest scientific standard
• Ability to secure competitive national and international research funding
• Evidence of scientific independence, including the ability to initiate new research projects and take key leadership roles in collaborative research
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain international research collaborations
• Active engagement in academic networks, consortia, or cross-disciplinary initiatives relevant to the department’s core research areas

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!