Assistant Professor in Immuno-Oncology

Karlstad University; Solna kommun; On-site; SEK 558,000 - 781,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Family-friendly environment

Annual salary reviews

Job summary

Karolinska Institutet in Solna, Sweden, is seeking an Assistant Professor focused on early-career researchers in immunology and cancer. The role comes with a generous funding package of 12 MSEK, and opportunities for advancement to Senior Lecturer are available.

The ideal candidate will lead a research group, engage in interdisciplinary projects, and participate in teaching. A commitment to scientific excellence and diversity is highly valued.

Qualifications

• At least two first or last author peer-reviewed publications.
• PhD awarded no more than seven years before the application deadline.
• Three weeks of higher-education pedagogical courses completion.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead an independent research group.
• Secure external funding and supervise doctoral students.
• Engage in teaching and pedagogical responsibilities.

Skills

Scientific excellence

Research funding attraction

Leadership abilities

Collaborative skills

Education

PhD in a relevant subject area

Tools

Advanced technologies

Omics

Systems biology

Job description

Assistant Professor – Early Career Researcher

Karolinska Institutet (KI), one of the world’s foremost medical universities, is launching a major recruitment initiative in 2026, looking for up to 21 outstanding early‑career researchers to join as Assistant Professors across a wide range of subject areas.

In the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), we integrate immunology, infection biology, and tumour and cell biology, supported by strong research infrastructure and close links to clinical research environments. We are establishing a new division in immuno‑oncology to create a focused research environment at the interface of immunology, tumour biology, and therapeutic development. You will work in a highly collaborative setting with access to advanced technologies, model systems, and translational research platforms. We value scientific excellence, creativity, and collegiality, and actively support the development of future research leaders.

What do we offer?

• Six‑year Assistant Professor position with a generous funding package of 12 MSEK to cover salary and research costs.
• Opportunity to be promoted from a time‑limited position to permanent employment as Senior Lecturer.
• Participation in interdisciplinary research community with rich opportunities for knowledge exchange across medicine and health.
• Comprehensive benefits package governed by collective agreements, including annual salary reviews, supplementary insurance, and institutional decision‑making participation.
• Family‑friendly environment with generous parental leave, excellent childcare and education systems, and high quality of life in Sweden.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with equal opportunity and rejection of all forms of discrimination.

Your mission

You will build and lead an independent research group focused on developing and applying experimental strategies to understand and manipulate immune responses in cancer, including dynamics within the tumour microenvironment and tumour‑host context. You will actively secure external funding, supervise doctoral students, and contribute to the training and mentoring of post‑doctoral researchers. Your role will involve teaching and pedagogical responsibilities, contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate education, and engaging actively in seminars, collaborative initiatives, and interdisciplinary programmes.

Eligibility requirements

• A PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area.
• At least two peer‑reviewed original scientific publications as first or last author, in addition to the doctoral thesis.
• Priority for those awarded a PhD no more than seven years prior to the application deadline.
• Consideration for earlier PhD holders with special circumstances for absence from research (e.g., parental leave, long‑term illness, positions of trust, mandatory service).
• Completion of three weeks of higher‑education pedagogical courses within two years of employment (or proof of equivalent training).

Assessment criteria

• Scientific excellence, originality, and feasibility reflected in impactful research contributions in immunology, cancer biology, or related disciplines.
• Documented international research experience and strong engagement in collaborative and interdisciplinary environments.
• Proven ability to attract competitive research funding and lead independent programmes.
• A clear, forward‑looking research vision addressing fundamental and translational aspects of immune regulation and therapeutic engineering.
• Strong expertise in experimental and/or computational approaches relevant to immunology and related fields.
• Experience with advanced technologies and model systems, including omics, systems biology, genome engineering, or high‑dimensional cellular analysis.
• Strong scientific networking, leadership, and collaborative skills.
• Background in one or more of the following areas:
  • Tumour immunology, immune regulation, cancer biology.
  • Experimental and translational cancer immunotherapy.
  • Cell engineering, synthetic immunology, advanced therapeutic modalities.
  • Systems immunology, omics technologies, computational biology.
  • Tumour microenvironment research, immune evasion, therapeutic resistance mechanisms.
  • Development of next‑generation immunotherapies and human‑relevant experimental model systems.

Position details

• Type of employment: Temporary position.
• Contract type: Full time.
• First day of employment: According to agreement.
• Salary: Monthly salary.
• Number of positions: 1.
• Full‑time equivalent: 100%.
• City: Solna.
• County: Stockholms län.
• Country: Sweden.

Application guidelines

• All applicants must follow the application instructions carefully.
• Application must include:
  • Personal letter (max. 1 page).
  • Application form, including your research project.
  • Up to ten published papers and optionally one manuscript (PDF).
  • PhD certificate.
  • Certificate of deductible time if applicable.
• Submit application through the Varbi recruitment system by 31 August 2026, 23:59 CEST.

Contact

• Mikael Karlsson, [e-mail]
• Björn Andersson, [e-mail]
• Carina Eklund, [e-mail]
• Elizabeth Valenzuela, [e-mail]

Karolinska Institutet's mission is to contribute to the improvement of human health through research and education.