The Graduate Program in Biotechnology (PPGBIO), at the master's and doctoral levels, is designed to provide high-quality training for professionals in the field of biotechnology. This objective is achieved through the advancement and transfer of research in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary areas related to biotechnology. The institution's mission is to contribute to the nation's development by cultivating scientific and educational leaders at all levels, thereby engendering positive economic, social, and environmental impacts. Graduates of the PPGBIO-UCS program, holding either a Master's or Doctoral degree, will be well-equipped to pursue careers in various sectors, including basic and higher education, research, business, innovation, and entrepreneurship. They will have the ability to apply the technical, scientific, and humanistic knowledge acquired during their training, contributing to the advancement of their respective fields.
PPGBIO is a program recommended by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), having received a score of 5 in the 2017-2020 four-year evaluation.
Major Areas of Concentration and Research Lines
The research conducted in the Graduate Program in Biotechnology is distributed across the following major areas and specific lines:
Agricultural Industry and Oenobiotechnology
This research line covers studies on:
Studies on plant genetics and improvement, and plant biodiversity and phytopathogens.
Research on microorganism-plant and insect-plant interactions.
Development of nanotechnological systems for controlling phytopathogens and pests.
Comparative analyses of epiphytic biota in grapes and vineyards.
Selection and improvement of oenological microorganisms.
Development of instrumental, analytical techniques for wine characterization and tasting.
Natural Products, Industrial Microbiology, and Bioprocesses
This research line covers the following studies:
Fermentation and enzymatic processes for producing and extracting compounds for industrial and biological applications.
Selecting and genetically improving microbial strains.
The isolation, characterization, and application of microbial enzymes.
The production of edible mushrooms through the formulation of production media and the development of bioreactors for submerged and solid-state processes.
The extraction, isolation, and chemical characterization of secondary metabolites from plants, as well as their biological activities.
Biocatalysis applied to the synthesis of compounds of industrial and biotechnological interest.
Metabolomics and proteomics studies using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
Molecular Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
Studies on molecular techniques aim to understand the mechanisms related to the pathogenicity of microorganisms.
Research on the response of microorganisms to stress conditions, inhibitory compounds, and antimicrobial resistance.
Toxicity and Oxidative Damage
Studies on the toxicity and mutagenic activity of natural products, biomaterials, and environmental samples.
Evaluation of DNA repair mechanisms and their implications.
Evaluation of antioxidant activity and changes in the redox mechanism induced by drugs, medications, foods, supplements, and synthetic and natural compounds.
Studies on understanding redox cell signaling in different pathologies.
Diagnosis and Control of Diseases of Human and Veterinary Interest
In vivo, in vitro, and computational molecular evolution studies for the development of diagnostic tools and disease control strategies in humans and animals.
Post-Graduation Program in Biotecnology - Professional Master
