The Graduate Program in Genetics and Plant Breeding is an interdepartmental Program at Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), located in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This program was established in 2004 and grants both the master’s and doctoral degrees. The Program grants both the master’s and doctoral degrees and it was recommended by CAPES in 2004 and received grade 6 in the last triennial evaluation (2010-2012).
This Program is the result of collaboration between faculty members from different UENF Departments such as Plant Breeding, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Plant Pathology, and Statistics. Our students have access to laboratory facilities, greenhouses, farms, and specialized equipment on the UENF Campus. Our faculty also has competing successfully for internal and external funding for research projects.
Our goal is to form Plant Geneticists and Plant Breeders, with solid scientific formation and capable of heading of training professionals to implement breeding programs aimed at developing new varieties as well as collection, preservation and germplasm management, basic seed production and genetic; besides the formation of geneticists, all with the potential to act in public and private organizations.
To achieve these goals, the program offers to the graduate student access to classical methods of plant breeding as well as modern methodologies involving recombinant DNA technology, use of advanced techniques in molecular biology, particularly the use of DNA markers as auxiliary procedures for plant breeding, biometrics and statistical analysis, cytogenetic, genomics and proteomics.
MAJOR AREA
Plant Breeding
RESEARCH AREA
Plant Genetic Resources
Plant Breeding
Genomic Analysis
Genetics and Plant Breeding Faculty
(Listed in alphabetical order by first name)
Alexandre Pio Viana
Fruit Trees and Perennial Species Breeding
e-mail: pirapora@uenf.br
Antônio Teixeira do Amaral Júnior
Plant Breeding
e-mail: amaraljr@uenf.br
Clícia Grativol Gaspar
D.Sc. – Biological Chemistry
e-mail: cgrativol@uenf.br
Geraldo de Amaral Gravina
Plant Breeding
e-mail: gravina@uenf.br
Gonçalo Apolinário de Souza Filho
Genomics and Molecular Biology
e-mail: goncalos@uenf.br
Helaine Christine Cancela Ramos
Plant Breeding
e-mail: helainecr@uenf.br
Marcelo Vivas
D.Sc. – Plant Breeding / Statistic
e-mail: mrclvivas@hotmail.com
Messias Gonzaga Pereira
Plant Breeding/Molecular Markers
e-mail: messias@uenf.br
Rogério Figueiredo Daher
Forage Breeding and Statistics
e-mail: rogdaher@uenf.br
Rosana Rodrigues
Breeding for Disease Resistance and Plant Genetic Resources
e-mail: rosana@uenf.br
Silvaldo Felipe da Silveira
Phytopathology
e-mail: silvaldo@uenf.br
Telma Nair Santana Pereira
Cytogenetics and Plant Genetic Resources
e-mail: telmasp@uenf.br
Vanildo Silveira
Biotechnology / Proteomics
e-mail: vanildo@uenf.br
Valdirene Moreira Gomes
Biotechnology / Proteomics associated with disease resistance
e-mail: valmg@uenf.br
Virginia Silva Carvalho
In vitro Germplasm Conservation/Tissue Culture
e-mail: virginia@uenf.br
The Program is administrated by a Committee with seven members, including five professors and two graduate students, one representing the Ph. D. students and the other one representing the Master Students.
Current members of the PCC
Helaine Christine Cancela Ramos – Coordinator / President
Alexandre Pio Viana – Teacher/Fruit Tree Improvement
Telma Nair Santana Pereira – Teacher/Plant Genetic Resources and Cytogenetics
Geraldo do Amaral Gravina – guest Teacher
Messias Gonzaga Pereira – Teacher/Molecular Markers
Juliana Pacheco Ventura – Student/PhD;
Ana Luiza da Silva Pereira Vaz – Student/Master.
Three research lines are currently being developed in different projects at the Genetics and Plant Breeding Program: Plant Genetic Resources, Plant Breeding and Genomic Analysis. Each research line covers major topics as listed below.
Plant Genetic Resources
1. Characterization, Evaluation and Use of Germplasm of Cultivated and Wild Species;
2. Germplasm Acquisition and Conservation.
Plant Breeding
1. Breeding for disease resistance;
2. Perennial species breeding;
3. Cereals, grains and biofuel Breeding;
4. Special corn breeding;
5. Horticultural breeding;
6. Statistical Methods Applied to Disease Resistance;
7. Genetic Improvement of Special Beans
Genomic Analysis
1. Proteomics and metabolomics applied to plant breeding;
2. Genomics applied to plant breeding;
3. DNA markers applied to plant breeding;
4. Biochemistry of the plant pathogen interaction;
ADMISSION
Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Plant Breeding – UENF
The UENF Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Plant Breeding offers openings for Master’s and Doctoral levels in the following research areas: 1) Plant Breeding; 2) Genomic Analysis; and 3) Plant Genetic Resources. For additional information, including application procedures, please consult the information below.
Application Deadlines
The courses are offered on a semester basis, with applications open twice a year, starting each academic semester. For the first semester of 2026, the application period will be from October 1st to 31st, 2025.
Number of Openings Offered
02 (two) openings at Master’s level and 02 (two) openings at Doctoral level
Schedule
Access the selection process schedule here with the activities and respective dates
Notes
The items that will be scored are detailed in these tables. Master’s or Doctoral
Selection Process
International candidates must contact a potential advisor, according to their area of interest, to obtain a letter of acceptance. There are no formal interviews or written exams. The selection process is comparative and classifying, based on the analysis of the summary curriculum vitae, official academic transcript, and the research plan, the latter must include: 1. Introduction focusing on the research proposal and related literature; 2. Objectives; 3. Methodology; 4. Expected Results; 5. Development Schedule; 6. Bibliography.
The summary curriculum vitae must be filled out according to this form. Master’s / Doctoral.
Required documents for application
Candidates must submit the following documents:
- Application form;
- Two photo (3×4 cm) digitalized;
- Birth or marriage certificate;
- Summary curriculum vitae, including documents (cited in the curriculum);
- Official undergraduate academic transcript;
- Official post-graduate academic transcript;
- Copy(ies) of the diploma(s) (undergraduate/master’s);
- Letter of Acceptance;
- Three letters of recommendation, signed by individuals linked to the university or the candidate’s professional activities;
- Research plan.
- Declaration of Portuguese Language Proficiency (Master’s candidate)
Portuguese Proficiency Requirement (Master’s candidates)
Applications from foreign candidates for the Master’s level will not be admitted without proper proof of proficiency in the Portuguese language. Proof must be presented through a declaration issued by the prospective advisor in Brazil, attesting that the candidate has a sufficient level of proficiency to follow the Program’s academic activities.
APPLICATION FORM TEMPLATES
- Application Form;
- Reference Letter;
- Curriculum Vitae for Master’s candidate;
- Curriculum Vitae for Doctoral candidate;
- Research Plan;
- Letter of Acceptance;
- Declaration of Portuguese Language Proficiency.
OTHER INFORMATION
- Selection Process Schedule;
- Profile of Openings Offered for both levels (Master’s and Doctoral);
- Items evaluated (Master’s);
- Items evaluated (Doctoral).
CLICK ON THE FORM BELOW TO APPLY:
GOOGLE FORMS – MASTER’S/DOCTORAL APPLICATION
Results Announcement:
The results of the selection process will be announced on the website https://pgmp.uenf.br/, according to the schedule.
Send your application materials via email to: pggmp@uenf.br.
The Program in Genetics and Plant Breeding offers flexibility in student coursework and a range of courses are available. There are mandatory classes for Master and Doctoral students. To complete academic background each student should choose in agreement with the advisor the appropriate coursework based on their research interest and academic profile.
Mandatory Courses for Master Students
- Genetics
- Statistics
- Plant Breeding
- Seminar
Mandatory Courses for Ph. D. Students
- Genetics
- Statistics
- Plant Breeding
- Advanced Genetics and Plant Breeding
- Seminar
Concentrations
- MGV 3700 – Plant Breeding
- MGV 3701 – Cytogenetics
- MGV 3702 – Quantitative Genetics
- MGV 3704 – Biometric Methods Applied to the Plant Breeding I
- MGV 3705 – Recombinant DNA Technology
- MGV 3706 – Plant Molecular Biology
- MGV 3707 – Biometric Methods Applied to the Plant Breeding II
- MGV 3708 – Genetics
- MGV 3709 – Plant Genetic Resources
- MGV 3712 – Carbon Metabolism and Plant Nutrition
- MGV 3717 – Evolution of Cultivated Plants
- MGV 3721 – Accessibility and Intellectual Property in Plant Breeding
- MGV 3801 – Plant Breeding for Resistance to Diseases
- MGV 3803 – QTL Mapping and Marker-assisted Selection in Breeding
- MGV 3830 – Experimental Techniques in Plant Breeding
- EAG 3700 – Applied Statistics I
- FIT 3700 – Plant Tissue Culture
- LBC 2720 – Structural and Biochemical Basis of the Biotic and Abiotic Stresses Plants Response
- LBT 2605 – Techniques of Genetic Engineering
- LBT 2725 – Advanced Topics in Biotechnology: Genetic Markers
- LBT 2736 – Proteomics Principle in Plants
- LBT 2780 – Transformation and Exogenous Gene Expression in Plants
- LEF 3726 – Integrated Control of Plant Diseases
- QFP 2707 – Current Topics in Genomics and Systems Biology
- MGV 3700 – Plant Breeding
- MGV 3701 – Cytogenetics
- MGV 3702 – Quantitative Genetics
- MGV 3704 – Biometric Methods Applied to the Plant Breeding I
- MGV 3705 – Recombinant DNA Technology
- MGV 3706 – Plant Molecular Biology
- MGV 3707 – Biometric Methods Applied to the Plant Breeding II
- MGV 3708 – Genetics
- MGV 3709 – Plant Genetic Resources
- MGV 3712 – Carbon Metabolism and Plant Nutrition
- MGV 3717 – Evolution of Cultivated Plants
- MGV 3721 – Accessibility and Intellectual Property in Plant Breeding
- MGV 3801 – Plant Breeding for Resistance to Diseases
- MGV 3803 – QTL Mapping and Marker-assisted Selection in Breeding
- MGV 3830 – Experimental Techniques in Plant Breeding
- EAG 3700 – Applied Statistics I
- FIT 3700 – Plant Tissue Culture
- LBC 2720 – Structural and Biochemical Basis of the Biotic and Abiotic Stresses Plants Response
- LBT 2605 – Techniques of Genetic Engineering
- LBT 2725 – Advanced Topics in Biotechnology: Genetic Markers
- LBT 2736 – Proteomics Principle in Plants
- LBT 2780 – Transformation and Exogenous Gene Expression in Plants
- LEF 3726 – Integrated Control of Plant Diseases
- QFP 2707 – Current Topics in Genomics and Systems Biology
Click the link below to access the schedule of Postgraduate, according to the desired semester.
In the calendar, students can check the total school days, the beginning and the end of the semester, the holidays provided for, and which are the most important dates (term limits) for the academic activities of graduate studies such as: Admissions of candidates, enrollment, renewals enrollment, inclusion and exclusion of subjects, etc..
It is important to be aware of these dates.
Bibliographic research
- Science Direct
- Scirus for scientific information only
- NCBI Pubmed
- ISI WEB for knowledge
- Blackwell Synergy
- Google Scholar
- Scielo Brasil
Organizations and Research Institutes
Scientific magazines
- Crop Science
- Conservation Genétics
- Plant Physiology
- Plant Cell
- TAG Theoretical and Applied Genetics
- Journal of the Plant Research
Capes Journals
Visitem o Portal Brasileiro de acesso as mais importantes revistas científicas do mundo, garantido pela CAPES.
Other websites
National Library
Genetics and Plant Breeding Graduate Program Coordination
UENF / CCTA / P1 – Ground Floor
AV. Alberto Lamego 2000 Parque California
Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ – ZIP 28013-602
Brazil
– Telephone: +55 (22) 2748-6066
– Email: pggmp@uenf.br
Notícias
Seminários e Eventos
