Postdoctoral researcher in immunology and inflammation in head- and throat cancer and asthma

Karolinska Institutet

Stockholm, Sweden

2026-05-29 (Europe/Stockholm)

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The research at the division of ear, nose, and throat diseases, which is part of the department of clinical Science, intervention, and technology, focuses on immunology (mainly T and B cells, dendritic cells, neutrophils) and inflammation within head- and throat cancer and asthma as well as immunotherapy for airway allergies.

Research is closely connected to ear-, nose- and throat (ENT) clinic and is spearheaded by Prof. Lars Olof Cardell. We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled scientist who would like to contribute to our research within head and neck cancer, asthma and airway allergy.

Your mission

As a postdoctoral researcher in our group, you will work on all aspects of the research process, including study design, experimentation, data and statistical analysis as well as scientific writing. You are expected to produce scientific articles for publication in appropriate journals and other recognized media. You will also participate in the group’s daily activities, such as processing routine samples, developing new projects and contributing to ongoing projects within the group’s research areas. You will work in a diverse team and perform experimental work in a research laboratory environment. Flow cytometry and various cell and molecular biology methods and techniques are used to analyze patient material in our studies. Processing patient samples (blood or tissues) and performing analyses such as FACS, ELISA, or PCR are routine tasks in various projects. You are also expected to mentor and train research students and undergraduate students in the laboratory, present research and results at international conferences and contribute to writing grant applications. Performing administrative tasks is also part of the role.

Your profile

To be eligible for employment as a postdoctoral researcher, a PhD or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a Swedish PhD is required. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision. Completion of your doctoral degree within the last three years is considered an advantage. If there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier. In addition to the eligibility requirements, we see that you have shown the following:

It is particularly meritorious that the applicant has shown:

• PhD in immunology or a related field, as well as an interest in cancer and/ or immunology
• Wide experience of relevant research methods (flow cytometry, immunoassays such as ELISA and IHC, qPCR, RNA seq and single cell RNA seq, protein assays, cell culturing) and underlying theories of these models
• Previous experience of laboratory work
• Competence in managing research projects, including time management and organization
• Ethical Awareness and adherence to ethical guidelines and regulations in research
• Ability to interpret complex information and resolve research issues
• Excellent English oral and writing skills

It is meritorious that the applicant has shown:

• Ability to communicate in Swedish, both orally and in writing
• Interdisciplinary understanding for grasp of related disciplines (cancer and/ or allergy immunology and immunotherapy) to encourage innovative and broader thinking
• Determination to overcome research challenges and setbacks in a fast-paced and competitive research environment

The applicant should be a highly motivated individual with the ability to collaborate and function well both in a team and in a fast-paced research environment. Since we work in close collaboration with clinical colleagues at NKS and in an interdisciplinary manner, the applicant must be independent, collaborative, creative, and have a positive attitude. The ability to work effectively with others, be open to discussion and feedback and communicate clearly is important. The applicant should also have the capability to manage time effectively and handle multiple projects and tasks simultaneously. Flexibility and adaptability to changing conditions and new challenges are also crucial. When assessing the candidates, we will place great emphasis on personal qualities.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement.

Location: Solna

Application

Welcome to apply at latest 29, May 2026.

An employment application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:

• PhD certificate
• A complete resumé, including date of the thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions, and committee work
• A complete list of publications
• A summary of current work (no more than one page)

The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.

Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all!

Type of employment: Temporary position
Contract type: Full time
First day of employment: According to agreement
Salary: Månadslön
Number of positions: 1
Full-time equivalent: 100%
City: Stockholm
County: Stockholms län
Country: Sweden
Reference number: STÖD 2-1989/2026

Contact:
1. Susanna Kumlien Georén, susanna.georen@ki.se

Union representative:
1. Taher Darreh-Shori, SACO, taher.darreh-shori@ki.se
2. Carina Eklund, OFR/ST, carina.eklund@ki.se

Published: 2026-05-08
Last application date: 2026-05-29