Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?
The Division of Environmental Physiology at Karolinska Institute conducts internationally recognized research focused on how environmental and occupational stressors, including altered ambient pressure, acceleration, and temperature variation affect physiological function in healthy humans.
The Division offers a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a long-arm human centrifuge, hypobaric and hyperbaric chambers, and extensive national and international research networks.
For more information, please visit: https://ki.se/en/research/research-areas-centres-and-networks/research-groups/environmental-physiology#tab-start
Your mission
The present position (1 year, with potential for prolongation) focuses on experimental human studies investigating physiological responses to environmental and operational stressors, particularly acceleration and decompression exposures.
The postdoctoral fellow will participate in studies examining how sleep deprivation and fatigue influence cardiovascular and autonomic responses during acute physiological stress. The role will also include engaging in research investigating factors that may aggravate or mitigate decompression strain during hypobaric or following hyperbaric exposures.
The work will be conducted primarily at the Division’s laboratories at Campus Solna, Karolinska Institute, and may also include field-based experimental studies.
Responsibilities include participation in all stages of the research process, including experimental planning and execution, data collection and analysis, interpretation of results, and preparation of scientific reports and manuscripts. The candidate will also participate in the supervision of master’s and doctoral students. In addition to lab work, the applicant is expected to take an active, constructive and developing part in lab management and undergraduate teaching.
Your profile
Qualified to be employed as a postdoctoral fellow is one who has obtained a doctorate or has equivalent scientific competence. Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the (intended) date of employment. This must be substantiated by the applicant's main supervisor, director or equivalent.
We are seeking a highly motivated, scientifically driven candidate with a strong background in environmental and integrative physiology, as well as experience conducting experimental research in humans.
Required qualifications
The ideal candidate should have:
A PhD in environmental physiology, or a closely related discipline. Documented experience conducting human physiological experiments in laboratory and/or field settings. Hands-on experience with continuous cardiovascular monitoring techniques, such as beat-to-beat blood pressure monitoring and impedance cardiography. Experience in cardiovascular signal analysis, including heart rate variability (HRV), and baroreflex sensitivity assessment. Practical experience with echocardiography and vascular ultrasound methodologies. Experience applying these techniques to detect and grade venous gas emboli is desirable but not essential, as training will be provided. Experience with exercise physiology methodologies, including maximal oxygen uptake testing. Fluency in spoken and written English.
Experience in the following areas is considered advantageous:
Aviation or decompression physiology research. Experience with cardiac imaging and/or subclavian vascular ultrasound for venous gas emboli detection and grading. Sleep deprivation and fatigue physiology, particularly related to cardiovascular or autonomic regulation. Sampling, handling, and analysis of human biological material. Fluency in spoken and written Swedish.
What do we offer?
Karolinska Institute is one of the world's leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote better health for all. At Karolinska Institute, we conduct innovative medical research and provide the largest range of biomedical education in Sweden. Karolinska Institute is a state university, which entitles employees to several benefits such as extended holiday and a generous occupational pension. Employees also have free access to our modern gym and receive reimbursements for medical care.
Location: Solna Campus, Biomedicum
https://ki.se/fyfa
https://ki.se/en/research/research-areas-centres-and-networks/research-groups/environmental-physiology#tab-start
Background check
Certain activities within Karolinska Institutet are classified under a security protection category; therefore, a security vetting process, including a background check against official registers, will be carried out in the event of employment, in accordance with the provisions of the Swedish Security Protection Act.
Application
An employment application should contain the following documents in English:
A complete curriculum vitae, including date of PhD thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic title, current position, academic distinctions, and committee work A complete list of publications A brief summary of current and previous research activities (maximum one page) A motivation letter describing research interests and career goals Contact information for at least two academic references
Welcome to apply!
The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.
Contact:
Antonis Elia, Assistant Professor, [email protected]
Gunnar Schulte, Professor, [email protected]
Anställningsform: tidsbegränsad anställning | Anställningens omfattning: heltid | Antal lediga befattningar: 1 | Sysselsättningsgrad: 100 | Ort: Solna | Län: Stockholms län | Land: Sweden | Referensnummer: STÖD 2-3113/2026 | Kontakt: Antonis Elia , Antonis Elia , Gunnar Schulte , Gunnar Schulte , | Facklig företrädare: Elizabeth Valenzuela, SEKO 08-52486363, Elizabeth Valenzuela, SEKO 08-52486363, Bodil Moberg , OFR/ST 08-52483601, Bodil Moberg , OFR/ST 08-52483601, Per Hydbring, SACO , Per Hydbring, SACO , Helin Norberg, SACO 08-52487190, Helin Norberg, SACO 08-52487190, | Publicerat: 2026-07-20 | Sista ansökningsdag: 2026-08-20
