Expedition Physician for Icebreaker Oden

The Polar Research Secretariat is a government agency that promotes and coordinates Swedish polar research. The agency is responsible for long-term planning of research and research infrastructure as well as organizing and conducting research expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica.

The agency's overarching goal is to contribute to increased international impact for Swedish polar research through collaboration, high-quality research infrastructure, and international partnerships.

The operations include, among others, the Abisko Scientific Station, the Kristineberg Marine Research Station, the icebreaker Oden, and the Swedish research stations Wasa and Svea in Antarctica. The Polar Research Secretariat has about 50 employees and is located in Luleå, Abisko, Helsingborg, and Fiskebäckskil.

The Polar Research Secretariat is now seeking an experienced physician to work on the icebreaker Oden during the Canada-Sweden Arctic Ocean 2025 expedition. This is a unique opportunity for you to combine your medical expertise with a passion for challenging environments, where nature sets the limits, and you will be a crucial part of the team's safety and health. This expedition is a joint venture with Canada tasked with investigating the seabed in the Central Arctic Ocean. The selected physician will fly from Oslo to Longyearbyen in Svalbard and board the icebreaker Oden around August 10, 2026. The research expedition will last for 6 weeks, and around September 20, the physician will disembark the icebreaker Oden in Longyearbyen to fly home via Oslo.

Job Responsibilities

The role of expedition physician takes place in the Arctic aboard the icebreaker Oden. Onboard, there are researchers from several different countries, crew, and staff from the Polar Research Secretariat, totaling about 75 people. You will be the sole medical officer onboard, and an expedition nurse will also participate during the expedition. You will work independently but will have the option for medical consultation via the internet or satellite phone with the responsible physician at the Polar Research Secretariat or colleagues in Sweden.

Your role is to assess, treat, and stabilize medical conditions on-site, and if necessary, lead and conduct a medical evacuation (MedEvac).

You are expected to handle trauma as well as acute surgical and medical conditions. The work also includes assessing and treating common primary care diagnoses that are the most frequent conditions during an expedition. The major challenge is that access to diagnostic aids and equipment is very limited, and evacuation may only be possible after several days.

The expedition lasts about 6 weeks and requires physical and mental endurance, but also offers unforgettable experiences in some of the world's most spectacular and isolated environments.

Requirements

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a Swedish medical license and is a specialist physician with at least five years of documented clinical experience after obtaining specialist certification.
• Has a broad medical interest beyond their own specialty.
• Has good knowledge of Swedish and English, both spoken and written.
• Has experience of being in nature in all seasons.
• Has participated in at least one of the medical training sessions organized by the Polar Research Secretariat.
• Is in good health and meets the medical criteria for expedition participants in expeditions organized by the Polar Research Secretariat.

Meritorious

• Experience from medical work outside the usual Swedish clinical environment is an advantage.

Personal Qualities

We are looking for someone who is confident in their professional role and thrives in an environment where conditions can change rapidly. You work independently, have good decision-making skills, and collaborate well with others. You have good professional judgment and the ability to act calmly and systematically even in pressured situations. The work also requires physical endurance, as the position may involve staying in demanding climate conditions and under simpler living conditions.

Other

The employment is a seasonal position during the period around August 10, 2026 – September 20, 2026, and one weekend in the spring of 2026.

Location: Icebreaker Oden/Arctic

The Polar Research Secretariat strives for diversity where our employees' backgrounds, experiences, knowledge, and personalities enrich our operations. It is also important for us that employees have the opportunity to balance work and private life.

Contact Persons

Information about the position can be obtained from Åsa Lindgren, 070-785 56 01 or Agnetha Folestad, [email protected]

If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact the HR manager, Rina Lindeström [email protected].

Union representative: Annika Kristoffersson, OFR/ST, phone 072-554 72 17

Interested?

Apply via the Polar Research Secretariat's recruitment system. Applications must be submitted by February 16.
Dnr 2026-27

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