History and Program Structure
The Postgraduate Program in Plant Biodiversity and the Environment (BVMA) of the Institute for Environmental Research (IPA) (formerly the Institute of Botany) was created in 2002, covering two concentration areas: Non-vascular Plants and Fungi in Environmental Analysis (PAF) and Vascular Plants in Environmental Analysis (PVA), in which observational, experimental and theoretical studies are carried out.
There are five lines of research within these concentration areas to offer highly diversified training in biodiversity and the environment:
I- DIVERSITY, PHYLOGENY, AND SYSTEMATICS OF NON-VASCULAR PLANTS AND FUNGI
II- ECOLOGY AND BIOMONITORING OF TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS WITH NON-VASCULAR PLANTS AND FUNGI
III- ECOLOGY AND BIOMONITORING OF TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS WITH VASCULAR PLANTS
IV- PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY OF VASCULAR PLANTS
V- FLORISTICS, PHYLOGENY, AND SYSTEMATICS OF VASCULAR PLANTS
Our Program has the CAPES 5 concept, offering the opportunity to train professionals at the Master’s and Doctorate levels, to work in the teaching of Botany and related areas in fundamental and higher courses, as well as to develop scientific research in academic institutions or enterprises. Until 2020, the PPG-BVMA awarded 446 degrees, including Masters and Doctorates. Theses and dissertations are available for consultation and download on our website.
The curriculum comprises specific subjects from the two concentration areas (PAF and PVA) and general interest subjects common to both areas (BMA), which are offered annually or semester-based. The subjects are taught by the researchers/professors to provide comprehensive academic training to the Master’s and Doctoral students of the Program, as well as to students and professionals from other national and international institutions. The subjects have theoretical and/or practical classes in the field and the laboratory.
The teaching staff comprises researchers/professors from different specialties who research Botany´s most diverse areas.
Mission
The PPG-BVMA/IPA addresses studies on plants and ecosystems in a multidisciplinary way, contributing to the training of qualified professionals to act in botanical and ecological research, environmental impact assessment, conservation, and sustainable use of biodiversity helping to recover ecosystems, in addition to studies focused on biotechnology of both vascular and non-vascular plants, as well as microorganisms, such as the prospecting for drugs, toxins, and bioactive substances. Its main objective is to train and perfect professionals who occupy leadership positions in teaching and research in Biodiversity and Environment.
Infrastructure
Students get involved in the research projects of their directors and develop activities within the Institutional Units, which have several laboratories equipped for research development in different areas. The infrastructure includes laboratories equipped with microscopes and stereomicroscopes; laboratories for the development of molecular techniques; laboratories to carry out plant anatomy and palynology activities equipped with a Scanning Electron Microscope; laboratories and adequate spaces for the cultivation and development of research with seeds and ornamental plants; complete laboratories in the areas of ecology, ecological restoration, physiology and biochemistry, and more recently, a multi-user laboratory with state-of-the-art analytical equipment. In addition, students can use the Botanical Garden, the Botanical Museum, and the Conservation Units as living laboratories for their research development.
PPG-BVMA students also have several biological collections available for consultation, among them the Maria Eneyda P. K. Fidalgo Herbarium (SP), one of the largest and most important Brazilian herbaria.
You can prepare your Lattes resume, following the guidelines directly on the CNPq website, available at the link: lattes.cnpq.br
Guide for the elaboration of the Lattes resume (In Portuguese)
SUBJECTS/CREDITS
The subjects of the Postgraduate Program are divided into three groups: BMA- common to the two concentration areas in “Plant Biodiversity and Environment”; PAF- specific to the “Non-vascular Plants and Organisms in Environmental Analysis” area; PVA- specific to the “Vascular Plants in Environmental Analysis” area. The subjects currently in force are listed below. In the General Program, you can check the study plan and calendar with the offer of subjects for each year.
NEW AND REGULAR STUDENTS:
Enroll with or without subject exclusively at SISPG http://200.144.29.107/botanicaweb/login.xhtml
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Graduate students must apply for the doctorate exclusively at SISPG http://200.144.29.107/botanicaweb/login.xhtml
To apply for admission to the Doctorate, click on “Request Doctorate” and then send to the Coordination (ipa.posgraduacao@sp.gov.br) the project to be developed, which will be initially evaluated by the Area Coordinator.
After the advisor´s acceptance and authorization from the Postgraduate Program Coordination, the student may enroll in the SISPG.
SPECIAL STUDENTS
Students outside the Program interested in studying a subject must send the following documents to the Postgraduate Office (ipa.posgraduacao@sp.gov.br):
- Declaration of registration from the University where the postgraduate course is being taken
- Enrollment Application for Special Students with subjects
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER’S DEGREE
- Maximum duration of 26 months
- Subjects (minimum of 25 credits)
- Dissertation and Defense (85 credits)
- Proficiency in the English language
- Qualification Exam (between 12 and 18 months from the first registration)
QUALIFICATION EXAM FOR MASTER’S DEGREE
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- Summary of the master’s project – send a PDF file to the email address: ipa.posgraduacao@sp.gov.br. Enter the email´s subject name as “master project summary_student name”
- Request for the Qualification Exam and jury composition must be made through the SISPG up to two business days before the Board Meeting of the month prior to the Qualification.
The Master’s qualification exam must be taken between 12 and 18 months from the first registration.
MASTER THESIS DEFENSE
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- Deliver to the Postgraduate Secretary only one copy and a reference letter signed by the advisor (in case of additional information about the jury is required). The other copies are the responsibility of each student to deliver to the jury members.
- Requests and suggestions for jury formation must be made through the SISPG, up to two business days before the Council Meeting of the month prior to the Defense.
MASTER’S DEGREE
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- Letter of application to the Rector of the USP and the Director of the IPA (template below)
- Copy of the identity card
- Copy of the Graduate Diploma (front and back)
- The diploma must be requested in May and October
DOCTORATE INFORMATION
- Maximum duration of 48 months
- Subjects (minimum of 40 credits)
- Thesis and Defense (165 credits)
- Proficiency in the English language
- Qualification Exam (between 18 and 30 months from the first registration)
DOCTORAL QUALIFICATION EXAM
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- The Doctoral Qualification Exam will consist of the presentation of a scientific article derived from the thesis, which must not have been sent for publication – a pdf file must be sent to the email address: ipa.posgraduacao@sp. gov.br.
- Please enter the email´s subject name as “resume of the doctoral project_student name”.
- Requests for the Qualification Exam and jury composition must be made through the SISPG up to two business days before the Board Meeting of the month prior to the Qualification.
THESIS DEFENSE
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
• Deliver to the Postgraduate Secretary only one copy and a reference letter signed by the advisor (in case of additional information about the jury is required). The other copies are the responsibility of each student and must be delivered to the jury members.
• Requests and suggestions for jury formation must be made through the SISPG up to two business days before the Board Meeting of the month prior to the Defense.
DOCTORATE APPROVAL
DOCTORS MUST PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS FOR TITLE APPROVAL WITHIN FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE DEFENSE
- 1 (one) final bound copy, according to the postgraduate model
- Letter from the advisor submitting the copy and confirming that the reviewer´s suggestions/corrections have been incorporated
- Letter from the Curator of the Herbarium
- Certificate of the Library (withdraw from the Library)
- Letter of article acceptance related to the thesis subject and produced together with the advisor during the doctorate period, being the student, the first author
- Annual Student Monitoring Form
- a CD copy containing:
pdf file of the final version of the thesis, including a catalog sheet in the text; name the file as the example: Jose_da _Silva_DR
doc file with title, abstract, and keywords for the Postgraduate website
ATTENTION: from the 2015 classes onward, it is mandatory to have the acceptance of an article resulting from the thesis