Assistant Professor in Cell and Molecular Biology

Karolinska Institutet; Solna kommun; On-site; SEK 535,680 - 669,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous funding package

Annual salary reviews

Supplementary insurance

Opportunity for promotion

Job summary

Karolinska Institutet is seeking an Assistant Professor in Cell and Molecular Biology to shape the future of medical science. The role involves proposing a groundbreaking research project with substantial funding support over six years.

Located in Stockholm, this position allows you to engage in a vibrant academic community while contributing to innovative research across disciplines. Applicants with a recent PhD and strong collaborative skills are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate good scientific skills according to KI’s eligibility criteria.
• At least one peer-reviewed original research publication.
• Complete three weeks of higher education pedagogical courses.

Responsibilities

• Propose a groundbreaking research project.
• Engage in interdisciplinary research community.
• Secure national and international research funding.

Skills

Scientific skills

Research experience

Academic leadership

Collaboration skills

Education

PhD in a relevant subject area

Job description

Assistant Professor in Cell and Molecular Biology

Karolinska Institutet, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology

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.

We foster a vibrant and international academic environment that values curiosity, collaboration, innovation, and high quality research. We look 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 Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm is a leading academic research department that supports and advances long‑term projects with the potential to yield groundbreaking discoveries within the broadly defined field of cell and molecular biology. Situated in Biomedicum, a vibrant interdisciplinary milieu that hosts much of KI’s experimental work, the department benefits from excellent core facilities and a direct link to SciLifeLab, a national research infrastructure centre.

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 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 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 researchers and their families.

We value differences in backgrounds and perspectives, and diversity, equity and inclusion are parts of our core values. KI is dedicated to equal opportunities and rejects all forms of discrimination.

Learn more about what KI and Sweden can offer, and the different calls.

Location: Stockholm

Eligibility requirements

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

• A PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area
• At least one peer‑reviewed original research publication in which you are the first or last author, and your former PhD supervisor is not a co‑author

Priority is given to those who were awarded a PhD (or attained equivalent competence) no more than seven years prior to 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.

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:

• Clearly visible excellent scientific quality, originality, and feasibility in your research plan within a relevant subject area
• Documented experience in research environments outside KI, with special consideration given to international research experience
• Proven potential to initiate and develop an independent line of research
• Demonstrated ability to secure national and international research funding in competition
• Established national and international collaborations
• Shown capacity to effectively communicate your research through publications, invited talks, and public outreach
• Strong collaborative and academic leadership skills
• Experience from supervising researchers and students

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.

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.

Application guidelines

All applicants are expected to follow the application instructions carefully. Failure to comply with the guidelines or misrepresentation of qualifications may negatively impact the evaluation of your application.

The application shall consist of the following documents, written in English:

• A personal letter (maximum 1 page)
• Application form, including your research project (Application form)
• Up to ten published papers and optionally one manuscript, in PDF format
• PhD certificate
• 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.

Employment details

Type of employment: Temporary position

Contract type: Full time

First day of employment: Upon agreement

Salary: Monthly salary

Number of positions: 2

Full‑time equivalent: 100%

City: Stockholm

Country: Sweden

Contact

• Bodil Moberg, OFR/ST, [e-mail]