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.
The Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (FyFa) conducts internationally renowned research and education in physiology, pharmacology, as well as anesthesiology and intensive care. FyFa’s strengths in pharmacology lie e.g. within the research areas neuropsychopharmacology, endocrinology & metabolism, pain, pharmacogenomics, molecular/receptor pharmacology, chronopharmacology, cardiovascular and renal pharmacology, respiratory pharmacology, and precision medicine.
The department has 400 employees and affiliated researchers, 30 research groups and 90 doctoral students. We offer a dynamic research environment in the Biomedicum Research Centre at Campus Solna. At FyFa, you will have the opportunity to work in a collegial and collaborative environment with engaged and supportive researchers and administrators.
To strengthen and diversify pharmacological research at FyFa, we are establishing the strategic focus area Novel Therapies to encompass emerging developments in pharmacology, drug discovery, and pharmacological approaches with strong translational potential.
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 12 MSEK 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
The position is embedded in the broader area of pharmacology and will contribute to the strategic focus area Novel Therapies. The subject area covers novel therapeutic modalities and translational pharmacology, broadly defined. This may include, but is not limited to, emerging drug classes (such as biologics, gene‑ and cell‑based therapies, RNA‑based drugs, or other advanced therapeutics), innovative target and biomarker discovery, and data‑driven or technology‑enabled approaches to drug development.
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 will establish and lead a dynamic research group in pharmacology with a focus on Novel Therapies, integrating experimental and computational methodologies. Your research should encompass state-of-the-art approaches across pharmacology fitting to the overall departmental interests. You will thrive in a highly collaborative environment where your expertise will complement and enhance ongoing research and bring added value to the department's scientific portfolio.
Your role involves collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. You will possess a talent for team building and leadership, fostering innovation and driving scientific excellence. Equally important are exceptional communication skills and a genuine commitment to mentoring early-career researchers, promoting a collaborative, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating research environment.
Your primary responsibilities of this position centre on developing an internationally competitive, independent research programme in the field. This programme should leverage and extend existing strengths at FyFa, foster interdisciplinary collaboration within Biomedicum and KI, align with clinically relevant needs, and secure funding sufficient to establish a self-sustaining research group.
While teaching is not a requirement for employment, at FyFa you will have the opportunity to teach in subject areas relevant to your research topic, develop graduate level courses, and recruit top level PhD students. Researchers holding an assistant professorship will be expected to take an active part in teaching commitments at the department.
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).
Assessment criteria
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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the scientific quality, originality, and feasibility of your research plan within the relevant subject area
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documented experience in research environments outside KI, with special consideration given to international research experience
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documented ability for scientific collaboration
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research proposals within or close to the strategic focus area Novel Therapies and established pharmacology research areas of FyFa are seen as advantageous
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demonstrated ability to publish in internationally leading journals within your respective field, with a prominent position in the author lists, preferably as first author and/or senior author
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demonstrated ability to secure substantial external funding as principal investigator
These criteria reflect our commitment to fostering university with diverse and globally recognised 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.
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!
Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all.
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