
Researchers and academic life
Karolinska Institutet employs approximately 3,000 researchers, including around 420 full professors. The university hosts more than 2,200 doctoral students. Moreover, the university has many affiliated researchers, such as clinically active researchers or visiting scholars. A large number of our researchers come from countries other than Sweden, and the working language in many research groups is English.

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.

More than 2,700 applications for KI's 20 assistant professor positions
Karolinska Institutet's record-breaking international recruitment of 20 assistant professors focused on excellence has been a great success. With over 2,700 applications from 1,560 researchers in 89 countries, the initiative has had an impact that strengthens KI's position as one of Europe's most attractive medical universities.

Meet our new professors
Fewer cardiac arrests in hospitals, improved imaging techniques, and more precise schizophrenia treatments — these are just some of the research areas our newly appointed professors at KI are working on. Every October, we celebrate the professors’ installation ceremony in Aula Medica. Meet our new professors and explore their research.

Career opportunities at KI for researchers

KI establishes new endowment professorship in integrative odontology
Thanks to a generous donation from businesswoman and investment company director Louise Lindh, the Department of Dental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet is able to establish a new professorial chair. This marks an important step towards making dental health a self-evident and integral part of public health.

Awarded for his groundbreaking discovery of natural killer (NK) cells
Rolf Kiessling’s research laid the foundation for current advances in NK cell-based cancer treatments. Now he receives a lifetime achievement award for his groundbreaking discoveries.

New titles for the hidden specialists behind KI's research
They work with highly specialised equipment for facilities that they have often built up themselves. Although not themselves researchers, their expertise, experience and international contacts render them indispensable for research at KI. A year ago, new titles were created for this important category of employee.

KI joins CoARA for the advancement of research assessment
CoARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment) is led by a number of EU organizations with the aim of advancing how research is assessed in order to maximise its quality, transparency and impact. KI has now signed the agreement together with a number of other Swedish universities.

Karolinska Institutet Postdoc Association (KIPA)
Considering a postdoctoral position at KI? KIPA is dedicated to enriching the postdoctoral experience at KI by improving working conditions, fostering networking opportunities, and advocating for postdocs. Contact them for advice, support, and new connections.

Junior Faculty at KI
Junior Faculty is an organisation for KI researchers with a PhD but not yet a permanent academic position. Their goal is to enhance career development through engagement with KI leadership and support for junior faculty.

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.