Assistant Professor recruitment programme 2026 — save the date

Karolinska Institutet continues to grow a global community of excellence. In summer 2026, KI will open a call for multiple Assistant Professor positions in medicine and health. We are once again looking for outstanding early-career scientists across a wide range of research areas to join us.

We offer generous start-up funding, a pathway to a permanent Senior Lecturer position, world-class research infrastructure, and more.

The call opens on 1 June 2026 — more details will follow soon.

Photo: Liza Simonsson
Aula Medica and Biomedicum at KI with a bridge to Karolinska University Hospital Photo: Liza Simonsson
New initiative to recruit assistant professors in 2026
Detail image from lab Photo: Liza Simonsson
Current news

New initiative to recruit assistant professors in 2026

The Faculty Board at Karolinska Institutet has decided to launch a new call for assistant professor positions in 2026, with the possibility of co‑funding up to 20 positions. Last year’s call was highly successful, attracting 2,700 applications from researchers in nearly 90 countries, and this year’s recruitment process will largely follow the same format.

Research at Karolinska Institutet

Research within the entire biomedical field
Photo: Gunnar Ask

Research within the entire biomedical field

Karolinska Institutet accounts for the single largest share of all academic medical research conducted in Sweden.

The research spans the entire biomedical field - from basic experimental research to clinical studies in collaboration with the health care system.

Core facilities
Microscope in the Live Cell Imaging (LCI) core facility. Photo: Martin Stenmar

Core facilities

Karolinska Institutet offers a wide range of core facilities, providing services, resources, and expertise to academic research in Sweden. These core facilities were all established to meet the needs of the university’s own scientists, and they are constantly evolving to provide the latest techniques and knowledge within their fields of expertise.

KI Research Incubator
KIRI Photo: Erik Flyg

KI Research Incubator

Karolinska Institutet aims to be a pioneering university. As part of this ambition, we have established the KI Research Incubator (KIRI), an energising platform dedicated to empowering emerging researchers and to foster a culture of innovation and cross-disciplinary partnerships.

Working at Karolinska Institutet

Why become a researcher at KI?
Photo: Liza Simonsson

Why become a researcher at KI?

Academic freedom and work-life balance are two aspects that attract many researchers and lecturers to Sweden and Karolinska Institutet. As a researcher here, you will have the right to commercialise your research, and even get support from the university in doing so. Find out more about the many benefits of working at KI.

Ten reasons to choose to work at KI
Photo credit: Erik Cronberg Photo: Erik Cronberg

Ten reasons to choose to work at KI

What do you look for in a new job? Creativity? Making a difference? Cutting-edge equipment? Doing your bit for world-leading research and education at Sweden’s largest medical university? In that case, KI is the employer for you. Today, KI ranks as the leading medical university in the EU. Here are some reasons for choosing to work at KI.

Jobs at KI
Maria Eriksdotter and Annika Tibell are talking in the building Neo. Photo: Linnea Bengtsson

Jobs at KI

Karolinska Institutet's vision is to be one of the leading medical universities in the world. Our committed and competent employees make this possible. Find all available positions at KI and everything you need to know about working at our university.