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 looking for 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 integrates immunology, infection biology, and tumor and cell biology, supported by strong research infrastructure and close links to clinical research environments (learn more about MTC here). We are establishing a new division in immuno‑oncology, creating a focused research environment at the interface of immunology, tumor biology, and therapeutic development. You will work in a highly collaborative setting with access to advanced technologies, model systems, and translational research platforms. We value scientific excellence, creativity, and collegiality, and actively support the development of future research leaders.
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
Cancer immunotherapy is entering a phase where immune responses can be rationally designed by controlling immune cell fate, function, and behavior. This position focuses on experimental immuno-oncology with an emphasis on mechanistic insight and engineering-driven approaches to understand and manipulate anti-tumor immunity. The aim is to enable development of next-generation therapies through precise modulation of immune cells and their interactions with tumors. Research within this area may include immune cell engineering, synthetic immunology, tumor–immune interactions, and in vivo programming of immune responses. Particular emphasis is placed on approaches that address immune cell plasticity, persistence, and function within the tumor microenvironment. The subject area is multidisciplinary, integrating immunology, gene and cell therapy, computational biology, and biotechnology. It aligns with the department’s strengths in fundamental tumor biology, and provides a framework for translating mechanistic discoveries into innovative therapeutic strategies.
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 focused on developing and applying experimental strategies to understand and manipulate immune responses in cancer, including their dynamics within the tumor microenvironment and tumor–host context. You will actively secure external funding to support your research program and drive its long-term development. As part of your academic responsibilities, you will supervise doctoral students and contribute to the training and mentoring of postdoctoral researchers.
You will be an integral part of the department, contributing to its scientific and strategic development through active participation in seminars, collaborative initiatives, and interdisciplinary programs. You are expected to establish strong collaborations within and beyond the department, including clinical and technological platforms where relevant. In addition, you will contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate education, helping to train the next generation of scientists in immunology and cancer research.
To be eligible for an appointment as Assistant Professor, you must demonstrate good scientific skills according to KI’s eligibility criteria as follows:
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A PhD (or equivalent degree) in a relevant subject area
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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:
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Scientific excellence, originality, and feasibility reflected in impactful research contributions within immunology, cancer biology, or related disciplinea
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Documented international research experience and strong engagement in collaborative and interdisciplinary research environments
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Proven ability to attract competitive research funding and lead independent research programs
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A clear and forward-looking research vision addressing fundamental and translational aspects of immune regulation and therapeutic engineering
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Strong expertise in experimental and/or computational approaches relevant to immunology, immune engineering, cell and gene therapy, or related fields
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Experience with advanced technologies and model systems, including omics, systems biology, genome engineering, or high-dimensional cellular analysis
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Strong scientific networking, leadership, and collaborative skills, with potential to contribute new research dimensions within the department
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A strong scientific background in some of the following areas;
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Tumor immunology, immune regulation, and cancer biology
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Experimental and translational cancer immunotherapy
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Cell engineering, synthetic immunology, and advanced therapeutic modalities
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Systems immunology, omics technologies, and computational biology
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Tumor microenvironment research, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance mechanisms
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Development of next-generation immunotherapies and human-relevant experimental model systems
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:
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A personal letter (maximum 1 page)
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Application form, including your research project (Application form)
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Up to ten published papers and optionally one manuscript, in PDF format
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PhD certificate
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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.
The application must be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.
Read more regardning the calls, conditions regarding funding and employment!
