Academic positions at KI

The main task of a doctoral student is to complete a research studies program. In the case of full-time studies, this takes four years.  The condition for employment as a doctoral student is admission to a research studies program.  

Employment as postdoc is a time-limited merit-based employment with a main focus on research as a first career step after the completed doctoral degree. A person can be employed as postdoc at KI for a maximum of four years, and the employment as postdoc refers to full-time work.

Scholarship for postdoctoral studies may be granted to persons residing in other countries who comes to Sweden with the intention of staying in Sweden for all or part of their postdoctoral education at KI. Person’s resident in Sweden and / or have completed full or part of their academic education at KI or any other university in Sweden cannot qualify for a scholarship from KI. Postdoctoral studies financed with a scholarship do not count as employment time as a postdoc (maximum three years).

Assistant Professor is a time limited career development position, and it is also a teaching position. Those who have completed a doctoral degree or have reached the corresponding competence no more than five years before the time for applying for the position as Assistant Professor has expired should mainly be considered. The duration of employment as Assistant Professor can vary from a minimum of four years to a maximum of six, which is to be decided by KI prior to the position is announced. 

An Assistant Professor has the right to apply for promotion to Senior Lecturer. If the Assistant Professor fulfills the assessment criteria for Senior Lecturer at KI and the special promotion criteria, he/she can be promoted to Senior Lecturer and receive a permanent position. 

A Principal Researcher has a doctoral degree and has achieved sufficient research expertise to be a research leader. The Principal Researcher must, among other things, have demonstrated hers/his own established line of research and be nationally and internationally recognized. The principal researcher’s main duty is to conduct research but teaching and supervision should also be included in their duties.

Those eligible for employment as a Research Specialist are those who have a doctoral degree and have documented research experience after the defense of the PhD thesis. A research specialist's duties include participating in research activities.

A Senior Research Specialist has a doctoral degree and has demonstrated good scientific independence to which her/his own contribution has been significant.  A senior research specialist's duties include participating in research activities. The employment as a Senior Research Specialist usually takes place after the qualification period as a Research Specialist, Postdoc, Assistant Professor (biträdande lektor) or equivalent.

A Research Infrastructure Specialist has a doctoral degree and has shown technical and methodological expertise.  A research infrastructure specialist’s duties include providing qualified competence as well as technological and/or methodological service and development.

A Senior Research Infrastructure Specialist’s duties include providing qualified competence as well as technological and/or methodological service and development. An appointment as a senior research infrastructure specialist may be made after a qualification period as a research infrastructure specialist, research specialist and/or postdoc.

Lecturer is a teaching position with the principal task of taking care of education. Eligible to be employed as a Lecturer is the one who has demonstrated teaching expertise and completed a doctoral degree.

An Adjunct Lecturer at KI shall have their main employment and activities outside the higher education sector. The purpose of the employment is to contribute expertise that is not generally found within the ordinary activities and which are necessary for education of high quality.

Assistant Senior Lecturer is a teaching position where the main tasks are in education. Qualified to be employed as an Assistant Senior Lecturer is the one who has demonstrated scientific and teaching expertise. Since it is a teaching position with main tasks in teaching, high demands are placed on teaching expertise.

Senior Lecturer is the second highest employment as a teacher at KI. All Senior lecturers at KI must demonstrate both research and teaching expertise. The position of Senior lecturer can have a focus either on research or on education and research. The eligibility criteria and assessment criteria differ between the two profiles. 

Positions as Senior Lecturer are in general advertised, but for those who have an employment as Assistant Professor at KI it is also possible to apply for a promotion to Senior Lecturer. 

An adjunct senior lecturer at KI shall have the main employment and activities outside the higher education sector. The purpose of the employment is to contribute expertise that is not generally found within ordinary activities, and the position should be of importance and benefit KI. The first employment period can last two years and may be extended. 

The position as professor is the foremost academic position at KI.

A professorship can be obtained through applying for an announced position as professor or through invitation. The position of Professor can have a focus either on research or on education and research. The eligibility criteria and assessment criteria differ between the two profiles. 

Adjunct Professor is a temporary position in which the employee must have his/her main employment and activities outside the higher education sector. The purpose of the employment is to contribute expertise that is not generally found within ordinary activities and the position should be of importance and benefit to KI. The first employment period can last four years and may be extended. The maximum period of employment is 12 years. 

A visiting professor at KI should be employed at another university.  The employment is temporary and varies between 20 and 100 percent. The total employment period can be a maximum of five years.

Senior Professor
If a department has special reasons for re-employment of a professor after reaching retirement age, the title senior professor should be used.