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 clinical science and education, Södersjukhuset (KI SÖS) is one out of 21 different departments at Karolinska Institutet. KI SÖS is mainly a clinically oriented department characterized by its strong integration between research and healthcare. Our department conducts internationally recognized research focusing on common diseases and conditions, as well as education from undergraduate to doctoral levels. The goal of all activities is to improve people's health. One of our main focuses is the area of clinical therapy research and diagnostics. We are seeking an outstanding early-career researcher with the potential to develop an independent research program addressing current and future needs in healthcare.
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: Södersjukhuset
The proposed main research area for this position is clinical therapy research. This includes interventional and observational clinical studies, as well as research in prevention, diagnostics, follow-up, implementation, nursing and rehabilitation, and can be clinical, epidemiological and/or translational by design. Precision-medicine applications, including the use of biomarker-driven clinical studies and AI-supported studies are encouraged. National collaboration is required and the main part of the research should be conducted in Sweden. The successful applicant will be expected to conduct high-quality clinical research, establish national and international collaborations and attract external funding. You are also expected to contribute to education and supervision, and promote implementation of research findings in healthcare. The position will be carried out in close collaboration with Swedish healthcare providers and relevant national clinical research networks.
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.
As an assistant professor you will develop an independent research program addressing important needs in healthcare. You are expected to contribute with new, cutting-edge research ideas and seek additional funding for novel projects. The research program should include studies that depend on healthcare structures and resources, and with high potential to generate patient and societal benefit within a near future after completion. You will have the opportunity to join one of the established research groups at our department, or establish your own research group. Read more about the department, including different research groups, via the link below.
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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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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ability to initiate and conduct research in collaboration with healthcare
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experience in leading international collaborative research projects
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experience in clinical studies
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experience in clinical trial research (academic and-/ or industry-sponsored studies)
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experience in precision medicine studies
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experience in AI-supported clinical studies
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 regarding the calls, conditions regarding funding and employment!
Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset
