Assistant Professor in Biomedical Science

Karolinska Institutet; Solna kommun; On-site; SEK 500,000 - 700,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous funding package

Comprehensive benefits package

Opportunities for promotion to Senior Lecturer

Job summary

Karolinska Institutet is looking for an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Science to contribute to innovative research and education at our Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics.

This six-year position offers support with a generous funding package of 15 MSEK. The role emphasizes developing an independent research line, teaching, and securing external funding, integral to building a strong academic profile within a global community.

Join us in Solna, Sweden, where you will be part of a high-quality research environment, with opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and access to leading research facilities.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated good scientific skills according to KI’s eligibility criteria.
• At least one peer-reviewed publication as first or last author.

Responsibilities

• Develop an independent line of research.
• Supervise doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers.
• Secure additional external funding.

Skills

Scientific skills

Research funding acquisition

Leadership

Supervision experience

Collaboration

Education

PhD or equivalent degree in a relevant subject area

Job description

Assistant Professor in Biomedical Science

Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics

Join a global community of excellence

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 a strong research and education environment, and who demonstrate high quality science and potential for academic leadership.

The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (MBB) is one of the largest and scientifically broadest preclinical departments at Karolinska Institutet, focused on basic research in biomedical sciences. We have a long and proud history of ground‑breaking science, particularly in developing innovative methods and applying them to understand fundamental human biology and the mechanisms that cause disease.

MBB is housed in the state‑of‑the‑art Biomedicum research building on the Solna campus, which co‑locates several preclinical departments under one roof and is purpose‑built to support cross‑disciplinary collaboration. From Biomedicum the appointee will benefit from immediate access to the SciLifeLab ecosystem on the same campus — including national infrastructure for genomics, single‑cell and spatial biology, advanced light and electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, structural biology, and high‑performance computing — as well as to Karolinska University Hospital, one of the highest‑ranked university hospitals in Europe, located directly across the road from Biomedicum and offering direct opportunities for translational collaboration with clinical researchers.

What do we offer?

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 15 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.

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.

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.

Eligible research topics include fundamental human biology and disease; examples are Cancer biology, Developmental biology, Function and disorders of the nervous system, Immunity and immune‑related disorders, Mechanisms of gene expression, Molecular mechanisms in redox control of cellular functions, Physiology and pathology of the vascular system, Regulation of metabolism in mammalian physiology and pathology. Eligible technology areas include Computational biology, Development of assays for clinical diagnostics, Engineering of nucleic acid‑ or protein‑based systems, Linking imaging modalities to omics, Methods development for high‑throughput single‑cell and spatial analysis, Nucleic acid‑based nanomedicines, delivery mechanisms, and programmable drugs, Precision cell or tissue engineering, Protein design, and Systems biology (including in vivo physiology).

Your mission

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 at MBB, you will be expected to secure additional external funding. The department will actively support your efforts in applying for both Swedish and international grants, including those from the European Research Council and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

You will be responsible for developing an independent line of research, establishing yourself as a leader in your field, and supervising doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers. This role includes full responsibility for managing your research activities, including budgeting, personnel oversight, and fostering a positive and productive work environment. In addition to leading your research group, you will contribute to collegiality, strategic initiatives, and leadership within the department and at Karolinska Institutet. Upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and academic integrity is essential in all aspects of your work.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for an appointment as Assistant Professor, you must demonstrate good scientific skills according to KI’s eligibility criteria as follows:

• A PhD (or equivalent degree) in a relevant subject area
• At least one peer‑reviewed original scientific publication as first or last author, after the doctoral thesis without previous PhD supervisor(s) in the author list.

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 organisations or mandatory service in total defence. The circumstances, dates and extent must be clearly specified in the application and verified by relevant documentation.

Assessment criteria

Candidates will be evaluated based on both scientific and pedagogical qualifications. All criteria will be assessed, but they should not individually be seen as requirements.

• the scientific quality, originality, and feasibility of your research plan within the relevant subject area
• documented experience in research environments outside KI, with special consideration given to international research experience
• proven ability to secure independent research funding
• supervision experience (first‑, second‑, and third‑cycle education)
• multidisciplinary and international collaboration
• leadership roles

These criteria reflect our commitment to fostering a university with diverse and globally recognised researchers who contribute to high quality science and excellent academic citizenship.

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.

Want to make a difference?

Type of employment: Temporary position (Full time). First day of employment: According to agreement. Salary: Monthly salary. City: Solna. Country: Sweden. Number of positions: 1. Full‑time equivalent: 100%.

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.