Asthma is among the most common chronic diseases with an estimated 339 million cases worldwide, resulting in over 250,000 deaths each year. A major challenge is that “asthma” is an umbrella diagnosis for obstructive airway diseases with variable clinical presentations (phenotypes) and distinct mechanistic pathways (endotypes). There is a need to identify the fundamental biochemical dysregulations (metabotypes) associated with the etiology and pathophysiology of asthma in order to improve quality of life for individuals with asthma.
The Unit of Integrative Metabolomics in the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) consists of multiple researchers focused on the use of metabolomics to perform molecular phenotyping of individuals in response to disease or environmental stressors. These efforts are combined with integrative modeling to identify biochemical pathways associated with specific disease sub-phenotypes towards the goals of 1) understanding the etiology of disease processes & 2) identifying markers of the onset as well as resolution of system-based stress. The Unit is housed in the Biomedicum building at the Karolinska Institute in a new purpose-built mass spectrometry facility. The Unit includes multiple mass spectrometers and the associated sample processing equipment as well as dedicated wet and dry laboratory space.
We have an opening for an individual wishing to join a multidisciplinary team aimed to understand the biochemical dysregulations that drive the development of asthma and other inflammatory lung diseases. Towards that end, the successful applicant will take the lead in analyzing multiple projects that involve integrating metabolomics and lipidomics data with other omics (e.g., proteomics, transcriptomics) as well as clinical phenotyping data. The primary challenge will be to identify the key molecular drivers of the different sub-types of asthma. Much of the work will involve the use of metabolomics data from multiple intervention trials to investigate the use of biologics to treat asthma. The overarching aim is to use the findings to develop diagnostic tests for identifying molecular sub-phenotypes of asthma.
We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a Ph.D. in metabolomics, epidemiology, data science, or statistics – or who can demonstrate via publications the acquisition of the necessary experience. Individuals with the following skills are encouraged to apply: excellent quantitative and applied research skills in data analysis, demonstrated proficiency in statistical language (e.g., R, Matlab), good bioinformatics knowledge of metabolomics, and strong oral and written communication skills. The candidate’s time will be devoted to data analysis, manuscript preparation, and career development. Prior experience working biological datasets, or high-dimensional data and knowledge in biology and respiratory diseases is a significant merit. Excellent communication skills and an ability to interact socially and scientifically with other members of the laboratory and with international collaborators are essential. We place great importance on personal suitability.
Postdoctoral scholarships may be established for foreign researchers who pursue their merit in Sweden. A foreign researcher is a person living in another country who comes to Sweden with the intention of only staying in Sweden for all or part of their postdoctoral education at KI. Persons who are resident in Sweden and/or have carried out all or part of their academic education at KI or some other educational institution in Sweden cannot be considered for scholarships. The purpose of scholarships for postdoctoral qualification is to promote internationalization and contribute to research qualification after a doctorate or equivalent.
A scholarship for carrying out postdoctoral research can be granted for a maximum of two years within a four-year period following the receipt of a doctoral degree or equivalent.
To be eligible for a postdoctoral scholarship, the person must have obtained a doctorate, or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctorate. 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) start date of the post-doctoral education.
A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Here, we conduct innovative medical research and provide the largest range of biomedical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Students and employees have free access to our modern gym facilities with trained staff on site.
This is a full-time, two-year scholarship position.
https://ki.se/en/imm/unit-of-integrative-metabolomics
The amount is tax free and it is set for twelve months at a time, paid out on a six months basis. In exceptional cases, shorter periods may be acceptable.
An application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:
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A complete curriculum vitae, including date of the thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions, and committee work
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A complete list of publications
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A summary of current work (no more than one page)
KI applies individual and differentiated salary setting in accordance with our collective agreements RALS and RALS-T
The application is to be submitted on the Varbi recruitment system.
Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all
Anställningsform: postdoktoralt stipendium | Anställningens omfattning: heltid | Antal lediga befattningar: 1 | Sysselsättningsgrad: 100% | Ort: Solna | Län: Stockholms län | Land: Sweden | Referensnummer: STÖD 2-2467/2026 | Kontakt: Craig Wheelock , | Facklig företrädare: Anda Gliga, SACO-S , Bodil Moberg , OFR/ST , Anne Boström, SEKO , | Publicerat: 2026-06-03 | Sista ansökningsdag: 2026-06-24
