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 2026. KI is seeking up to 21 outstanding early- career researchers to join us as Assistant Professors in a wide range of subject areas.
At KI, we foster a vibrant and international academic environment that values curiosity, collaboration, innovation, and high-quality research. We are looking for inspiring scientists who are motivated to contribute to and further develop strong research and education environment, and who demonstrate high quality science and potential for academic leadership.
Join a stimulating and interdisciplinary research environment at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet. Our department conducts research and teaching within immunology, infection biology, microbiology/bacteriology, cell and tumor biology (learn more about MTC here). We offer a unique opportunity to develop your independent research program in a multi-disciplinary and collaborative setting with access to cutting-edge infrastructure and world-leading expertise. At MTC, we value scientific excellence, innovation, and collegiality. Come shape the future of microbiology/bacteriology research with us.
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 12MSEK 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 will 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 will also benefit from close connections with healthcare providers, ensuring your research remains closely aligned with real-world clinical practice.
As a governmental authority, 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.
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.
At KI, we value differences in backgrounds and perspectives, and diversity, equity and inclusion are parts of our core values. KI is dedicated to our work for equal opportunities and rejects all forms of discrimination.
Learn more about what KI and Sweden can offer, and the different calls!
Location: Solna
Basic and clinical microbiology have historically been very strong research areas at KI, with extensive research covering bacteria, parasites, and viruses. This research aims to provide both fundamental and clinical understanding of how pathogenic microorganisms are regulated and how they interact with their host, as well as insight into how the microbiota interacts with host organisms and the importance of the microbiota for the host’s health. This knowledge can be used to prevent and combat both old and emerging infectious threats, such as the acute situation of escalating antibiotic resistance and new highly virulent microbes for which vaccines and/or treatments are lacking, but also to understand how microbes can protect against and drive the development of non-communicable diseases.
This Assistant Professor position offers excellent opportunities to build a strong academic profile—primarily by developing your independence as a researcher, while also gaining valuable teaching and pedagogical experience.
You are expected to build and lead an independent research group in the field of microbiology, especially bacteriology. You will actively apply for external research funding to support your group’s activities and scientific development. As part of your academic responsibilities, you will supervise doctoral students and contribute to the training of postdoctoral researchers. You will be an integral part of the department, participating in and contributing to the development of departmental activities, including seminars, strategic initiatives, and collaborative projects. You are also expected to foster collaborations within and beyond the department. In addition, you will participate in educational activities at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, helping to shape the next generation of scientists.
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
-
Proven ability to attract competitive research funding
-
Experience in interdisciplinary research environments
-
Engagement in novel and forward-looking research directions
-
A broad and versatile experimental skill set
-
Development and application of advanced model systems in bacteriology
-
Documented experience in international research collaborations
-
Strong scientific networking and collaborative skills
-
Expertise in omics technologies and data integration
-
Potential to fill an unmet scientific niche or to contribute to a new research dimension within the department
-
A strong scientific background in some of the following areas;
-
Basic microbiology with a focus on bacteriology
-
Host-pathogen interaction studies, bacterial immune responses
-
Microbiome research
-
Genomics, proteomics of bacteria
-
Antibacterial research
-
Bacterial vaccines and new antibacterial therapeutics
These criteria reflect our commitment to fostering university with diverse and globally recognized researchers who contribute to high quality science and excellent academic citizenship.
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.
In this recruitment, we place importance on personal qualities.
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 shall consist of the following documents, written in English:
-
A personal letter (maximum 1 page)
-
Application form, including your research project (Application form)
-
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 August 31, 2026 (time 23.59 CEST).
KI applies individual and differentiated salary setting in accordance with our collective agreements RALS and RALS-T.
For more information about the calls, conditions regarding funding and employment, see here.
