Career Focus Group

Vision

The Career Focus Group (CFG) works to improve transparency, structure, and opportunities in career development at Karolinska Institutet (KI), with a particular focus on Junior Faculty (JF).

Goals

As representatives of PhD researchers who have not yet obtained a permanent faculty position, we aim to:

• Promote a more structured career path at KI 
• Increase transparency in recruitment and career progression processes 
• Support the development of independent research careers through funding, and infrastructure. 
• Provide guidance and support for those pursuing an academic career

Current Focus (2026)

1. Mapping Group Leader Requirements across KI departments
We are systematically collecting and comparing criteria for becoming a group leader across departments to improve transparency and identify gaps.

2. Career Development Activities 
We are organizing a series of webinars and workshops focused on key aspects of academic career development at KI, including the docent application process, teaching and academic merit requirements, and broader career structures.

3. Collaboration with Senior Faculty 
We are exploring joint initiatives with Senior Faculty, including webinars and workshops, grant review support, and opportunities for knowledge exchange between junior and senior researchers.

4. Monitoring key issues affecting Junior Faculty

We actively monitor issues of importance to Junior Faculty, including career structure, funding opportunities, and support for career progression.

Contact the Focus Group coordinators