Postdoctoral Researcher in Sensory Neuroscience

Do you want to contribute to top quality research?

In our research group, you will find a unique opportunity to work within an ERC funded project together with top researchers in the intersection between neuroscience, psychology, and chemistry to jointly try to understand how the human sense of smell works. To achieve this goal, we conduct various research projects that try to link odor perception to brain processing using several different methods, including electrophysiological (EEG), functional and structural brain imaging, as well as behavior and psychophysical measurements. We offer an engaging and international research environment where you get an opportunity to contribute to high-quality research at the highest international level.

Your mission

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to lead a work package in our ERC Synergy grant (D2Smell) with the overall aim to digitalize smell. The aim of this sub-project is to develop and validate a new method to record electrophysiological responses to odor stimuli directly from the human olfactory receptors. Your main tasks will be, with the help of research assistants, to develop the recording setup, design and conduct experiments, analyze collected data, and publish the results in scientific articles. This will be done in direct collaboration with materials scientists in another ERC project with the goal of developing new electrodes. You will also work in close collaboration with other nodes within the ERC project. Beyond working on the ERC project, you will also be able to pursue your own research questions within the framework of our general research program. As a postdoctoral researcher in the group, you get the opportunity to work in a successful and well-funded research group with a number of senior and junior researchers. Our research group collaborates with a number of prominent research groups around the world, which provides an opportunity for international exchanges.

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.

The successful candidate must have a PhD in a relevant research field as well as previous well-documented research experience of working with electrophysiological measurements and analyses. It is desirable if you have experience with single cell or intracranial electrophysiological recordings, prior publications using electrophysiological recordings, advanced analysis skills, or previous experience with assessing behavioral and neural processing of olfactory or other sensory stimuli. It is considered a merit if the successful candidate can demonstrate publications in international peer-reviewed journals.

English is the main language of communication in the research group, therefore, strong written and spoken English skills are necessary. Knowledge of Swedish is beneficial. Potential candidates will be interviewed, and personal skills and qualities will be considered when filling the position. Importance will be placed on independence, social skills and the ability to work within a multinational and transdisciplinary environment.

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

Why become a researcher at KI
Read more about the research group you will be part of
Read more about the project you will be working on

Application

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.

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 2-1706/2026

Contact:
1. Johan Lundström, johan.lundstrom@ki.se
2. Vendela Breeze, vendela.breeze@ki.se