The Postgraduate Program in Biology of Fungi (PPGBF) at the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, began its activities in 1996 as a Masters Course in Biology of Fungi. The course became a Postgraduate Program in Biology of Fungi in 2000 offering Master and PhD Courses. Our Program is classified as Level 4 by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), a Federal Agency that finances and governs graduate courses. It is the only specific program in the field of Mycology in Brazil. The Program covers practically all sub-areas of Mycology and currently features 23 researchers (supervisors) and 2 administrative staff members.

The PPGBF is linked to the Centre of Biosciences and the Department of Mycology.

 

People

Researchers

(supervisors in alphabetical order)

Adriana Mayumi Yano Melo - http://lattes.cnpq.br/9076184948422530

Alexandre Reis Machado -http://lattes.cnpq.br/6746729845836847

André Luiz C. M. de Azevedo Santiago - http://lattes.cnpq.br/4167081362896236

Cledir Rodrigues Santos - http://lattes.cnpq.br/6501105780852347

Cristina Maria de Souza Motta - http://lattes.cnpq.br/0573658625006450

Elaine Malosso - http://lattes.cnpq.br/6392519796667446

Felipe Wartchow - http://lattes.cnpq.br/6314571767850075

Gladstone Alves da Silva - http://lattes.cnpq.br/7515227011885198

Iuri Goulart Baseia - http://lattes.cnpq.br/1260730935714266

José Luiz Bezerra - http://lattes.cnpq.br/8480645905948026

Keila Aparecida Moreira - http://lattes.cnpq.br/6589137488914452

Laise de Holanda Cavalcanti Andrade - http://lattes.cnpq.br/9353769923577373

Leonor Costa Maia  - http://lattes.cnpq.br/6736575837409659

Luis Fernando Pascholati Gusmão - http://lattes.cnpq.br/7359896733836304

Marcela Eugênia da Silva Cáceres - http://lattes.cnpq.br/3801791273361463

Marcos Antonio de Morais Junior - http://lattes.cnpq.br/5220518797580348

Neiva Tinti de Oliveira - http://lattes.cnpq.br/2531397248047256

Norma Buarque de Gusmão - http://lattes.cnpq.br/9307221791191545

Oliane Maria Correia Magalhães - http://lattes.cnpq.br/4177581040882928

Patrícia Vieira Tiago - http://lattes.cnpq.br/0777368218133800

Reginaldo Gonçalves de Lima Neto - http://lattes.cnpq.br/9993875563206244

Rejane Pereira Neves - http://lattes.cnpq.br/0360951033804105

Tatiana Baptista Gibertoni - http://lattes.cnpq.br/8535172322991148

 

Graduate courses

In the Biology of Fungi Program you will be appointed to one of the 23 supervisors to conduct your studying in the program and will be offered well-equipped research laboratories, library, wireless network throughout the campus and an excellent environment for learning. The PPGBF has graduated over 300 masters and 80 doctors since 1996.

 

Master

Students aiming a Master's Degree in Biology of Fungi are required to:

• Complete the program in a minimum of 12 months, or a maximum of 24 months;
• Complete a minimum of 24 credits, with 16 in compulsory subjects and 8 in elective courses;
• Perform research activities and have a dissertation approved in their chosen area of concentration.

PhD

Students aiming a PhD in Biology of Fungi are required to:

• Complete the program in a minimum of 24 months, or a maximum of 48 months;
• Complete a minimum of 24 credits, with 8 in compulsory subjects and 16 in elective courses;
• Pass the Qualification Exam by the 30th month;
• Perform research activities and have a thesis approved in their chosen area of concentration.

 

Research

Research Areas

• Basic Mycology

1. Taxonomy and Ecology of Fungi
2.  Genetics and Molecular Biology of Fungi

• Applied Mycology

1. Fungi of Agronomic Interest
2. Fungi of Biotechnological Interest
3. Fungi of Medical Interest

 

Research Groups

- Prospection of Biological Substances

Leader: Professor Keila Aparecida Moreira. The group currently works within three research methods: the Biotechnology of Fermentative Processes; Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology and Bioactive Peptide Production. The studies undertaken range from scientific initiation to post-doctoral studies. http://dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/7744590889109377

 

- Fungi of Agronomic interest

 Leaders: Professors Neiva Tinti de Oliveira and Patricia Vieira Tiago. The group includes research involving fungi of interest in agronomy, in several aspects such as genetics, biological control and phytopathogenic fungi, among others. http://dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/5871531116548070

 

- Collection of Fungi Cultures

Leaders: Professors Cristina Maria de Souza Motta and Rejane Pereira Neves. The Micoteca URM, Mycology Department, CB/UFPE, is registered at the Commonwealth Mycological Institute under the acronym URM (the former Universidade do Recife - Micologia) and affiliated with the World Federation for Culture Collections under No. 604. The Micoteca URM receives and supplies samples, isolates and identifies fungi, freeze-dry fungal cultures and offers training to students and professionals. The research group works on characterizing the stocked samples, regarding biotechnological aspects like the production of enzymes, organic acids, use in the biological control of pests; genetic aspects, molecular markers; and for the characteristics of pathogenicity.

http://dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/7097145167154083

 

- Fungi of medical interest and yeasts of biotechnological interest

Leader: Professor Rejane Pereira Neves. The aim of this group is to improve the knowledge and characterization of pathogenic fungi related to etiological agents of mycoses and when isolated from natural substrates in the environment. Furthermore, it seeks to identify and characterize yeasts of biotechnological interest isolated from substrates used in industries and/or their residues.

http://dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/6888082367453127#identificacao.

 

- Filamentous fungi with emphasis on mycorrhizae.

Leader: Professor Leonor Costa Maia. The study of the taxonomy, distribution and diversity of soil fungi is important to increase knowledge about the group, particularly in lesser-explored areas, with it being the first step for the conservation of ecosystems and the proper management of agricultural areas. Among the most interesting fungi are the mycorrhizal fungi, symbionts that favour the growth of the plant. Studies on the morphology and molecular genetics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are of fundamental importance for the taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Glomeromycota, a phylum that these fungi belong to.

http://dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/6609434805357149

 

How to apply

Candidates should visit the course webpage at www.ufpe.br/ppgbf, click on the Selection tab, and follow the instructions provided by the specific public notice (at the moment only in portuguese), open annually by September.

 

Scholarships and Grants

The UFPE is a free Public University (expenses are covered by the Brazilian Government) and there is no charge for students taking Graduate Program courses, including foreign students. Students admitted to the Postgraduate Program in Biology of Fungi can receive a scholarship (for personal expenditures) from CAPES, CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) and other government agencies according to availability. The PPGBF receives a number of scholarships from each agency and distributes them among the students according to the criteria established by a Scholarship Committee. Candidates who wish to enrol as full-time students have the priority to receive scholarships from the Program.

Scholarships are awarded for 24 months for a master's degree and 48 months for a PhD.

Applicants from developing countries may also apply for scholarships available under the CAPES PEC-PG Program. More information on how to apply and the list of participating countries can be found here.

Supervisors can receive grants through projects sent to CNPq, CAPES, FACEPE or national and international, private institutions.