Do you want to contribute to better care, support and living conditions for people with developmental, psychiatric and somatic conditions? At the research centre KIND, Karolinska Institutet, we are looking for a postdoctoral researcher who wants to conduct and coordinate research, development and implementation related to the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, ICF. The position combines independent scientific work with coordination of ICF-related projects, development of digital solutions and collaboration with users, clinical services, IT developers and international partners. You will join an internationally recognised research environment in developmental conditions, particularly autism and ADHD, with strong clinical and societal relevance.
KIND research centre and the research group
At KIND, we conduct research, education and development in the field of developmental conditions such as autism and ADHD, as well as co-occurring psychiatric and somatic conditions. KIND has approximately 50 employees and is part of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Research and Development Centre at Torsplan, Gävlegatan 22, in central Stockholm.
Our vision is an inclusive society with equal living conditions for all people with developmental, psychiatric and somatic conditions and their families. KIND has a strong national and international reputation, and our work is recognised through scientific collaborations, assignments, awards and competitive research grants.
Sven Bölte’s research group has for many years conducted research on the ICF and its application in developmental, psychiatric and somatic conditions. The research aims to develop and evaluate ICF-based models, assessment approaches, methods and digital solutions to describe strengths, difficulties, participation and the impact of environmental factors at individual, organisational and societal levels.
The work is carried out in close collaboration with national and international researchers, clinical services, users and family members, stakeholder organisations, IT developers and other societal actors. The overall aim is to contribute to more person-centred, functioning-based and evidence-informed healthcare, education and support services.
For more information about KIND, please visit: www.ki.se/kind
As a postdoctoral researcher, you will conduct research in the field of ICF-based assessment, modelling, development and implementation with relevance for people with developmental, psychiatric and somatic conditions. The position includes both independent scientific work and a clear responsibility to contribute to the coordination of research, development and implementation activities within KIND’s ICF programme.
You will work closely with the director of KIND and the research group to drive, coordinate and develop ICF-related activities. This includes scientific studies, methodological development, grant applications, ethical review applications, data collection, analysis, scientific publication, development and testing of ICF-based approaches, and further development of a digital ICF platform.
An important part of the role is to help ensure that research, technical development and practical implementation are connected in a meaningful way. The work therefore involves collaboration with several different stakeholders, including users and family members, clinical services, stakeholder organisations, IT developers, researchers and international collaborators. You need to be comfortable working across academic research, clinical practice, technical development and user-oriented collaboration.
Duties may include:
planning, conducting and analysing empirical studies within the ICF field- coordinating research, development and implementation activities related to ICF
- contributing to the development, testing and evaluation of ICF-based instruments, models, methods and digital solutions
- coordinating work related to the digital ICF platform in dialogue with researchers, clinicians, users, family members, IT developers and other partners
- contributing to requirement specification, testing, documentation and further development of digital ICF-based tools
- working with data collection, data management, statistical analyses and/or qualitative analyses
- writing and publishing scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals
- contributing to grant applications, ethical review applications, reports and scientific presentations
- participating in the development of research protocols, study designs and implementation strategies
- collaborating with users, family members, healthcare, education, social services, stakeholder organisations and policy actors
- participating in and coordinating international research collaborations
- presenting research and development work at conferences, seminars and stakeholder meetings
- contributing to implementation and knowledge dissemination nationally and internationally
- supervising or supporting junior researchers, students or project staff when relevant
- actively contributing to the research environment at KIND and Sven Bölte’s research group
The position offers excellent opportunities for scientific qualification, international networking and development of an independent research profile in an area of high clinical, technical and societal relevance. At the same time, the role is well suited for someone who also appreciates practical coordination, development work and collaboration with different stakeholders.
To be eligible for employment as a postdoctoral researcher, a PhD or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a Swedish PhD is required. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision. Completion of your doctoral degree within the last three years is considered an advantage. If there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier.
We are looking for an engaged, responsible and independent researcher with an interest in developmental, psychiatric and somatic conditions, functioning, participation, quality of life and implementation. You enjoy working in an interdisciplinary environment and want to contribute to research and development with practical relevance for healthcare, support services, education and society.
As the position involves collaboration with Swedish services, users and family members, as well as international partners, you must be **fluent in Swedish and English, both spoken and written**.
You should have:
a doctoral degree in psychology, medicine, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, public health, neuroscience, health sciences, implementation science, epidemiology, social sciences or another relevant field- experience of scientific work and good scientific writing skills
- an interest in the ICF, functioning, implementation and/or developmental, psychiatric or somatic conditions
- good organisational and collaborative skills
- the ability to work independently while contributing constructively to a research group
- good communication skills in collaboration with researchers, clinicians, users, IT developers and other partners
Experience in one or more of the following areas is considered an advantage: ICF, autism, ADHD, psychiatry, somatic comorbidity, implementation research, digital health, project coordination, psychometrics, quantitative or qualitative research methods, grant applications, ethical review applications, international collaborations or collaboration with users and clinical services.
Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability, motivation, scientific potential, collaborative skills and the ability to contribute to a positive and responsible research environment.
A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world’s leading medical universities. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and offer the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI, you will meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisations and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience across scientific fields within medicine and health.
It is the cross-disciplinary collaborations that have contributed to KI’s position at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare were educated at KI. A close relationship with healthcare providers is important for creating groundbreaking education and research of the highest quality. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles employees to several benefits through our collective agreement.
Employees at KI may also be offered flexible working arrangements, depending on the needs of the organisation. KI also offers wellness benefits and access to modern fitness facilities.
Location: Gävlegatan 22, Torsplan, Stockholm/Solna
Learn more about KIND here
Choose to work at KI – Ten reasons why
Application
An application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:
- A complete resumé, including date of thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions and committee work
- A complete list of publications
- A summary of current and previous research, including methodological expertise and relevance for the position, no more than one page
- A personal letter describing your motivation for the position, your interest in the ICF and KIND’s research area, and how your profile matches the position
- Contact details for at least two referees
After a first round of selection and interviews, work samples or additional documentation may be requested.
KI applies individual and differentiated salary setting in accordance with our collective agreements RALS and RALS-T
The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.
Anställningsform: tidsbegränsad anställning | Anställningens omfattning: heltid | Antal lediga befattningar: 1 | Sysselsättningsgrad: 100% | Ort: Stockholm | Län: Stockholms län | Land: Sweden | Referensnummer: STÖD 2-2992/2026 | Kontakt: Sven Bölte , Johanna Ahlström 08-52482397, | Facklig företrädare: John Inge Johnsen , SACO , Bodil Moberg , OFR/ST 08-52483601, Robert Lindberg, SEKO +46104821803, | Publicerat: 2026-06-30 | Sista ansökningsdag: 2026-08-09
