A. Welcome

The Microbiology Postgraduate Program of the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (PPG-MICRO) aims to form qualified masters and doctors to act in research and education. Its target audience are professionals from different areas of the Biological and Health Sciences, including biologists, physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, nutritionists and veterinarians.

The Master program from PPG-MICRO was created in 1994, and the Doctoral program, in 2006. In the last triennial evaluation of CAPES, a federal governmental institution that controls the quality of the National Postgraduate Programs, PPG-MICRO received the degree of 4, in a range that varies from 3 to 7.

PPG-MICRO is structured in three areas: i) Immunology of Infectious and Parasitic Processes, ii) Medical Bacteriology and iii) Medical Parasitology. Researchs in each area are carried out with modern approaches such as Celular and Molecular Biology, Epidemiology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, without abandoning the traditional aspects of Parasitology.

B. Lines and projects of Research

The scientific research projects of PPG-MICRO cover topics of high relevance and timeliness, and are grouped in three different research lines: 

1. Applied Microbiology: this line of research includes epidemiological studies of infectious and parasitic processes, investigations on microbial genetic and physiology of microorganisms, on the relationship between microbial structure and function, molecular biology, mechanisms of survival and persistence in the environment or in the host, mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial drugs, as well as on the role of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and helminths in specific areas or particular contexts, such as food, environmental clinical and oral microbiology.
   
   
2. Cellular Microbiology: this line of research groups projects focused on the molecular mechanisms that mediate the interaction between microbial pathogens and eukaryotic cells, particularly research focused on signal transduction between infectious agents and host cells or tissues, as well as on molecular mediators of biological phenomena such as inflammatory response, necrosis, apoptosis and others.
   
   
3. Anti-infective immunity: this line of research groups research projects focused on the innate and acquired immune response to infectious processes, as well as projects that assess antigenic aspects of the immune response and pathogen-induction of molecule secretion or expression at the surface of host cells.

On going projects

1. Applied microbiology (Project - Coordinator - Area of ​​Concentration)

1.1 Microbiological aspects and virulence of microorganisms from the oral cavity and respiratory tract - Prof. Raphael Hirata Junior - Bacteriology
1.2 Microbiological, immunological, clinical, and molecular epidemiological aspects of diphtheria and infectious processes caused by medically important coryneform microorganisms - Prof. Ana Luiza de Mattos Guaraldi - Bacteriology
1.3 Markers of bacterial antimicrobial resistance, genetic diversity and virulence attributes in Gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis and nosocomial environment - Prof. Elizabeth de Andrade Marques - Bacteriology
1.4 Epidemiological markers and virulence factors in Enterococcus and other Gram positive bacteria of medical importance - Prof. Vania Lucia Carreira Merquior - Bacteriology
1.5 Occurrence, phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Aeromonas spp - Prof. Angela Correa-de Freitas Almeida - Bacteriology
1.6 Occurrence, virulence and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial pathogens isolated from water and food - Prof. Mara Lucia Penna Queiroz - Bacteriology
1.7 Virulence properties and molecular genetic analysis of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) - Prof. Ana Cláudia de Paula Rosa - Bacteriology
1.8 Oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): occurrence of community-acquired strains (CA-MRSA) in hospitalized patients and in patients with cystic fibrosis - Prof. Robson de Souza Leão - Bacteriology
1.9 Morphological, biological and stereological studies on helminth parasites of vertebrates - Prof. José Roberto Machado e Silva - Parasitology

2. Cell Microbiology (Project - Coordinator - Area of ​​Concentration)

2.1 Aspects of virulence and genetic diversity of diarrheogenic Escherichia coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains (STEC) - Prof. João Ramos Costa Andrade - Bacteriology
2.2 Biological characterization and interaction with eukaryotic cells of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and other gram-positive pathogens - Prof. Ana Luiza de Mattos Guaraldi - Bacteriology
2.3 Influence of microbial and host human cell features on apoptosis induced by Streptococcus agalactiae - Prof. Prescilla Emy Nagao Ferreira - Bacteriology
2.4 Mechanisms of gene regulation in the host cell-pathogen interaction - Prof. Alessandra Mattos Saliba - Bacteriology
2.5 Modulation of eukaryotic cell behavior by Pseudomonas aeruginosa - Prof. Maria Cristina Maciel Plotkowski - Bacteriology
2.6 Biochemical aspects of the relationship between trypanosomatids and host cells - Prof. Maria Patricia Lawrence Dutra - Parasitology
2.7 Antiparasitic activity and immunomodulatory effects of s ynthetic substances or vegetable - Prof. Sylvia Amaral Gonçalves da Silva Parasitology

3. Immunology of infectious and other processes (Project - Coordinator - Area of ​​Concentration)

3.1 Kinetics of antibody production and generation of memory lymphocytes after vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis B - Prof. Lucimar Gonçalves Miracles - Immunology / Bacteriology
3.2 Impact of different neurotransmitters in stress activation and differentiation of T lymphocytes - Prof. Arnaldo Feitosa Braga de Andrade and Prof. Cleonice Alves de Melo Bento - Immunology
3.3 Immunobiology of HIV infection - Prof. Arnaldo Feitosa Braga de Andrade and Prof. Cleonice Alves de Melo Bento - Immunology
3.4 Aspects of cellular and humoral immune response to vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C in children infected with HIV – Prof. Lucimar Gonçalves Miracles - Immunology / Bacteriology

C. Admission into the Postgraduate Program

To apply for the postgraduate program, the candidate must have an undergraduate degree in Microbiology or Parasitology and Immunology or on a related area. Applicants to the Master Program are subjected to a selection process that takes into account  their knowledge of Microbiology or Parasitology and Immunology, proficiency in English and CVs. The selection process for applicants to the Doctoral Program will consist of analysis of CV, written and oral presentation of their study plans and written test of English proficiency.

The foreign student must apply and pass the selection examination before receiving the letter of acceptance, with which the candidate may request a student visa. Applicants are ranked according to the average score of their specific knowledge test and CVs (Master Program) or CVs and study
plan presentation (Doctoral Program).

Required Documentation 

All documents should be translated by a sworn-translator.

• Two recent photos
• Copy of passport
• Copy of birth certificate
• Curriculum Vitae (a documentary proof must be attached for every item in the CV)
• Official undergraduate transcript
• Official masters transcript (when applied)
• Copy of undergraduate and masters (when applied) diploma
• Research project (for PhD students only)

The research project must contain: the research sub-area to which the candidate is applying to (Bacteriology, Parasitology or  Immunology), a description of the proposed research, a list of courses planned to complement the student's education, approval of the future academic advisor.

Application dates for the masters program are available here (in Portuguese).

Degree Requirements

Masters Degree

The Masters Program will have a minimum duration of twelve (12) months and a maximum of 24 (twenty four) months but it will be allowed the closing of registration for 6 additional months. The disciplinary grid is composed of 11 mandatory courses totaling 26 credits. The student must also defend a Master's Thesis.

Doctoral Degree

The PhD will have minimum of 24 (twenty four) months and a maximum of 48 (forty eight) months but it is allowed the closing of registration for additional 12 months. The disciplines of Doctorate grid consists of 26 (twenty six) credits, all elective, with the exception of discipline "Teacher Internship Program", mandatory for all students. The student must also defend a PhD thesis, which corresponds to 10 credits, totaling 36 credits required for graduation.

Most of the required courses will be taught in Portuguese. For this reason, it is important that students reach some level of proficiency in Portuguese as soon as possible. Portuguese lessons are offered on campus and may be a valuable resource for those seeking to improve in the language.

Financial Support

Historically, most full-time students from PPG-MICRO receive some form of financial support through the duration of their studies.