Assistant Professor in Microbiology focusing on Bacteriology

Karlstad University; Solna kommun; On-site; SEK 650,000 - 850,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Annual salary reviews

Parental leave

Childcare support

Job summary

Karolinska Institutet seeks an Assistant Professor in Microbiology focusing on Bacteriology to advance research in a collaborative environment. This position offers a 12 MSEK funding package and the potential for promotion to Senior Lecturer.

The ideal candidate will lead a research group, applying for funding while supervising doctoral students. Located in Solna, Stockholm County, the role requires a PhD and emphasizes scientific excellence.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate good scientific skills per KI criteria.
• A minimum of two peer-reviewed publications.
• PhD obtained no more than seven years before application deadline.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead an independent research group in microbiology.
• Supervise doctoral and post-doctoral researchers.
• Apply for external research funding.

Skills

Research funding acquisition

Bacteriology expertise

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Scientific networking

Education

PhD in Microbiology or related field

Job description

Assistant Professor in Microbiology focusing on Bacteriology

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

Join a stimulating and interdisciplinary research environment at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet. Our department conducts research and teaching within immunology, infection biology, microbiology/bacteriology, cell and tumor biology (learn more about MTC here). We offer a unique opportunity to develop your independent research program in a multi‑disciplinary and collaborative setting with access to cutting‑edge infrastructure and world‑leading expertise. At MTC, we value scientific excellence, innovation and collegiality. Come shape the future of microbiology and bacteriology research with us.

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 can read more about it here.

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.

Description of the subject area

Basic and clinical microbiology have historically been very strong research areas at KI, with extensive research covering bacteria, parasites and viruses. This research aims to provide both fundamental and clinical understanding of how pathogenic microorganisms are regulated and how they interact with their host, as well as insight into how the microbiota interacts with host organisms and the importance of the microbiota for the host’s health. This knowledge can be used to prevent and combat both old and emerging infectious threats, such as the escalating antibiotic resistance and new highly virulent microbes for which vaccines and/or treatments are lacking, but also to understand how microbes can protect against and drive the development of non‑communicable diseases.

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.

You are expected to build and lead an independent research group in the field of microbiology, especially bacteriology. You will actively apply for external research funding to support your group’s activities and scientific development. As part of your academic responsibilities, you will supervise doctoral students and contribute to the training of post‑doctoral researchers. You will be an integral part of the department, participating in and contributing to the development of departmental activities, including seminars, strategic initiatives and collaborative projects. You are also expected to foster collaborations within and beyond the department. In addition, you will participate in educational activities at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, helping to shape the next generation of scientists.

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 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).

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.

• 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 attract competitive research funding
• Experience in interdisciplinary research environments
• Engagement in novel and forward‑looking research directions
• A broad and versatile experimental skill set
• Development and application of advanced model systems in bacteriology
• Documented experience in international research collaborations
• Strong scientific networking and collaborative skills
• Expertise in omics technologies and data integration
• Potential to fill an unmet scientific niche or to contribute to a new research dimension within the department
• A strong scientific background in some of the following areas:
  • Basic microbiology with a focus on bacteriology
  • Host‑pathogen interaction studies, bacterial immune responses
  • Microbiome research
  • Genomics, proteomics of bacteria
  • Antibacterial research
  • Bacterial vaccines and new antibacterial therapeutics

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

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).

Job details

Title: Assistant Professor in Microbiology focusing on Bacteriology

First day of employment: According to agreement

Contract type: Full time

Number of positions: 1

Full‑time equivalent: 100%

Location: Solna, Stockholm County, Sweden

Reference number: STÖD 2-2295/2026

Last application date: 2026‑08‑31

Contact details

• Birgitta Henriques Normark – [e-mail]
• Björn Andersson – [e-mail]
• Carina Eklund – [e-mail]
• Elizabeth Valenzuela – [e-mail]