HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF THE PROGRAM
With over 58 years of tradition, the genetics research group in Pará was founded by Professor Manuel Ayres, a pediatrician and the first director of what is now the Institute of Biological Sciences at UFPA. The first group of geneticists in the state began its activities in 1966, within the former Faculty of Philosophy at UFPA. It later became part of the Biology Department, established in 1971, and eventually led to the creation of the Genetics Department in 1980. Until 2000, Genetics and Molecular Biology was one of the concentration areas of the Graduate Program in Biological Sciences. In 2001, the area gained autonomy with the creation of the Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology (PPGBM), approved by CAPES. Since then, the program has stood out, becoming the third in the country to receive a CAPES score of 6, and the only one with this distinction in the Biological Sciences I area in the Amazon region.
MISSION OF THE PPGBM
PPGBM’s mission is to train highly qualified professionals in Genetics and Bioinformatics, with a comprehensive and critical perspective focused on the Amazon, Brazil, and the world. The program is committed to preparing researchers, professors, and professionals capable of contributing in academic, scientific, and public service fields, both nationally and internationally. We aim for students to develop a solid theoretical foundation, critical thinking, and technical expertise during their Master’s or PhD studies, enabling them to address key regional and global challenges related to our areas of focus.
VISION AND VALUES OF THE PPGBM
Our vision is to become a leading reference in Brazil and Latin America in the training of professionals for strategic sectors such as universities, research institutes, public agencies, biodiversity conservation organizations, public health institutions, and primary and secondary schools. We also seek to promote engagement with the third sector. To achieve this, we are guided by core values: ethics, academic excellence, freedom of thought, meritocracy, passion for knowledge, social commitment, environmental responsibility, transparency, and the sustainable use of biodiversity to promote social justice and equity. These principles guide our commitment to shaping professionals who are not only technically competent, but also socially and environmentally conscious.