Lívia Roese-Miron, a graduate of the Animal Biodiversity Graduate Program at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), was awarded the John C. Marsden Medal in 2026 by the Linnean Society for the best doctoral thesis in biology outside the field of botany.

The award recognizes a 2025 study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, which presented key findings from her doctoral research. Roese-Miron investigated the cynodont Siriusgnathus niemeyerorum, a prehistoric vertebrate belonging to the ancestral lineage of mammals that lived more than 200 million years ago during the Triassic Period in southern Brazil.

By utilizing high-resolution computed tomography (CT scanning), the research team conducted a detailed analysis of a complete skull specimen. This advanced digital approach enabled the reconstruction of internal anatomical structures, including the inner ear and the pathways previously occupied by cranial nerves. The findings also revealed new insights into the animal's facial mobility, offering a clearer understanding of behaviors such as feeding, defense, and social interaction in these extinct mammal ancestors.     

“I am deeply honored to receive this award. It reflects the effort invested in the research and highlights the importance of studying synapsid evolution. I am especially grateful to my co-authors and to my supervisor, Professor Leonardo Kerber, whose contributions were essential,” the researcher stated.

According to the journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Streicher, who selected the award-winning paper, the study stands out for its analytical rigor and the quality of its illustrations. He also emphasized the potential of current technologies to investigate nervous system structures in species that became extinct millions of years ago. The official announcement of the award is available on the Linnean Society website, and the article can be accessed online.  

Text: CAPPA/UFSM
Translation: Amy Graham Lee, International Affairs Office 

Key Information:
• Application Deadline: June 1
• Selection Process: Simplified and conducted entirely remotely
• Requirements: Submission of a CV, a reference or presentation letter, and participation in an online interview
• Language Proficiency: Portuguese proficiency is not required for admission, but it is mandatory for graduation
• Start Dates: Course activities may begin in March or August 2027

Costs and Financial Support:
It is important to note that admission does not guarantee any financial support. Although a limited number of stipends or scholarships may be available depending on the program, these are highly competitive, While UFSM does not charge tuition or fees, students are still responsible for covering travel, health insurance, and living expenses. The candidadates should be prepared to fully fund such expenses in order to submit their application.

Click on the button bellow to access the call: 

The Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) periodically issues a simplified call for the admission of international students to its graduate programs. Currently. a total of 33 openings in Master’s programs and 22 openings in Doctoral (PhD) programs are available across nine participating graduate programs. The selection process will take place in 2026, while course activities are scheduled to begin in 2027.

Key Information:
• Application Deadline: June 1
• Selection Process: Simplified and conducted entirely remotely
• Requirements: Submission of a CV, a reference or presentation letter, and participation in an online interview
• Language Proficiency: Portuguese proficiency is not required for admission, but it is mandatory for graduation
• Start Dates: Course activities may begin in March or August 2027

Costs and Financial Support:
It is important to note that admission does not guarantee any financial support. Although a limited number of stipends or scholarships may be available depending on the program, these are highly competitive, While UFSM does not charge tuition or fees, students are still responsible for covering travel, health insurance, and living expenses. The candidadates should be prepared to fully fund such expenses in order to submit their application.

Click on the button bellow to access the call: 

Dr. Érico Flores, from the  Department of Chemistry at the Federal University of recently visited Poland, where he delivered a lecture at the University of Warsaw. The visit took place from November 24 to 28 and included a series of academic activities, technical visits and meetings aimed at planning joint initiatives between researchers from UFSM’s Graduate Programs in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and their counterparts at the University of Warsaw. Santa Maria (UFSM).

The activities focused on expanding scientific cooperation, including the development of joint research projects and the exchange of researchers and graduate students. During his stay, Dr. Flores held a formal meeting with the Vice-President of the University of Warsaw, Zygmunt Lalak, in which the terms of a scientific and academic cooperation agreement between the Polish institution and UFSM were discussed.

He also met with the Vice-President for Finance at the University of Warsaw, Łukasz Drewniak, who is also a researcher at the Faculty of Biology, to discuss future collaborative initiatives. In addition, Dr. Flores visited the facilities of the Biological and Chemical Research Centre (CNBCh), where he was welcomed by the unit’s director, Ewa Bulska.

As part of his visit, Dr. Flores delivered the lecture “New Trends in Sample Preparation in Analytical Chemistry” on November 26 at the CNBCh auditorium.

As an immediate outcome of the visit and the contacts established, a visit to UFSM by the CNBCh director and other researchers from the University of Warsaw has been scheduled for the first half of 2026.

According to Dr. Flores, the initiative represents another step forward in strengthening partnerships between Brazilian and European institutions in the fields of research and innovation. “With the new connections established with different research group leaders at the University of Warsaw and the clear interest in joint work with UFSM researchers, we anticipate a promising future for cooperation between both institutions. This reinforces UFSM’s internationalization efforts and enhances its global visibility,” he emphasized.

Dr. Flores is currently a member of several national and international institutions, including the Board of the Rio Grande do Sul Research Support Foundation (Fapergs), the Advisory Council of the Brazilian Chemical Society, the Chemistry Advisory Committee of the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (Capes), and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).

The Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) ranked 7th place nationally and 2nd place in the Southern region in the 2025 Higher Education Entrepreneurship Ranking (Ranking de IES Empreendedoras), which includes both public and private institutions from across Brazil. The official announcement was made on December 12 at 4 p.m. at the Federal Senate, in Brasília. During the same event, the university also received a best practices award for the Sinergia Program, developed within the Provost Office for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PROINOVA).

The President of UFSM, Luciano Schuch, attended the ceremony and highlighted the significance of the achievement. “It is highly meaningful and important, as it reflects the maturity with which we have been developing our ecosystem. Being ranked 7th in the country and 2nd in the Southern region, among more than 100 institutions, shows how advanced and consolidated we are in innovation and entrepreneurship,” he emphasized.

According to Schuch, the result reflects the integrated efforts of the InovaTec Technology Park, the Pulsar Incubator, the Provost Office for Extension (PROINOVA), and UFSM junior enterprises, which have strengthened the innovation ecosystem and generated direct impacts on both the academic community and the market. “Through innovation and extension, we are able to reach the community and the market very quickly, generating quality of life and contributing to economic development in our country,” he noted.

The President also stressed that the engagement of the academic community has been decisive: “These results are reflected in our daily university life: more engaged students, students with purpose. I can only thank our entire community for working toward increasing visibility in national and international rankings.”

Continuous growth in the Higher Education Entrepreneurship Ranking

The Provost for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Daniel Bernardon, explained that UFSM has shown steady growth in recent editions of the ranking. UFSM reached 11th place in 2023 and, in 2025, advanced four positions to 7th place - even with a large increase in the number of participating institutions.

He noted that the ranking evaluates several dimensions, such as incubators, technology parks, technology transfer, intellectual property, licensing, industry collaboration projects, and entrepreneurship education. “It reflects the maturity of our system and the breadth of our activities. Today, in most rankings, we are already classified as a consolidated ecosystem in innovation and entrepreneurship,” he stated.

According to Bernardon, this recognition is directly linked to the university’s strategic planning and to the strengthening of PROINOVA, which was created to coordinate innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives across four dimensions: technological, social, entrepreneurial, and public management. “Innovation is not limited to major projects or large-scale monetization. We are talking about purposeful innovation, capable of transforming territories and reaching society,” he explained.

Looking ahead, one of the main priorities is to democratize innovation by engaging groups that do not yet see themselves as part of this movement. “We will focus strongly on segments that are not yet fully engaged with innovation, showing that they also have space in its many forms,” he added.

UFSM sent a delegation to the Higher Education Entrepreneurship event, including the President of the university, members of PROINOVA - among them Professor Carmen Brum, Maurício Coffy, and Professor Marta Rovedder, one of the pioneers of the Sinergia Program.

Sinergia Program receives national best practices award

 Created at UFSM and currently coordinated by PROINOVA, the Sinergia Program was recognized at the event as an example of best practices in innovation and entrepreneurship. The initiative connects companies based in the Pulsar Incubator and the InovaTec Technology Park with undergraduate and graduate students, who work on real-world challenges presented by industry partners.

Carmen Brum, Coordinator of Entrepreneurship Education at PROINOVA, explained that Sinergia operates as a bridge between the university and society. “Sinergia allows companies within UFSM’s innovation ecosystem to present real demands, and students - under faculty supervision – to address them within their courses. This ensures that academic knowledge transcends theoretical boundaries,” she said.

Among its concrete outcomes, she highlighted:

• patent filings with the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), including one application already submitted and another in progress, resulting from projects with the startup company Spray Solutions; 

• a functional 3D-printed prototype developed in 2023 by Industrial Design students and tested by real users; 

• the development of an API by Software Project students for the startup company Qiron Robotics, which led to the hiring of one participating student;

• positive feedback from companies, which consider the solutions comparable to specialized consulting services and plan to implement the improvements proposed by students. 

In addition to strengthening students’ practical training, the program enhances companies’ competitiveness and contributes to the regional innovation ecosystem. “Sinergia reinforces UFSM’s reputation as an institution committed to innovation, entrepreneurship, and real-world impact,” emphasized the coordinator.

Next steps

Following this national recognition, the Sinergia Program plans to expand to additional undergraduate and graduate programs and courses, increase the number of partner companies, and consolidate its results by transforming prototypes and solutions into licensed products or intellectual property assets.

For Carmen, growth also means reinforcing the program’s role in regional development. “By generating solutions and supporting startups, Sinergia fosters regional entrepreneurship and contributes to the economic and technological development of the region,” she concluded.

Text: Marina Brignol, Journalism student and News Agency intern.
Photos: Personal archive
Editing: Ricardo Bonfanti

Original Name: Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo 

Location: Uagadugu, Burkina Fas 

Agreement type: Cooperation Protocol   

Objective: Both signatory institutions will seek to promote and implement technical-scientific and cultural cooperation programs, in accordance with the legislation in force in their respective countries and with the norms of international law

Validity period: 30/03/2026 – 30/03/2031

Original Name: Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica (ITCR)

Location: Cartago, Costa Rica 

Agreement type: Cooperation Protocol   

Objective: Aspiration to enhance exchange and technical-scientific cooperation, with the aim of strengthening institutional scientific research and development programs between the two countries.

Validity period: 06/04/2026 – 06/04/2031 

Work Plan Director: Marcus Soares

The Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) has inaugurated Brazil’s first maker laboratory dedicated to foodtech. Integrated into the InovaTec UFSM Technological Park and funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Foodtech FabLab was created with the mission of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the food, beverage, and supplement sectors. The facility will offer advanced infrastructure, training, and specialized services aimed at transforming the food chain efficiently and sustainably.

This initiative responds to a global scenario marked by profound transformations. There is increasing pressure for more sustainable food systems, resilient supply chains, and alternatives to traditional chemical inputs in the face of challenges such as food insecurity, supply instability, climate change, and growing demands for quality and transparency. At the same time, product reformulation to meet new consumer preferences requires applied research, agility, and regulatory certainty. In this context, prototyping and technological validation environments have become strategic in bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and market application.

For this reason, the Foodtech FabLab was created with a global perspective. It is the result of a project designed to connect Brazilian academic excellence with the demands of an international market in constant evolution. The space is collaborative and equipped with advanced technologies, enabling researchers, students, startups, companies, and regulatory stakeholders to work together on concrete solutions for present and future food systems.

Maker spaces are creative environments that promote hands-on learning and foster creativity, experimentation, and skill development. They provide access to tools, equipment, and platforms for testing, prototyping, and validating ideas. In the foodtech sector, initiatives of this kind are still rare worldwide, and in Brazil, the Foodtech FabLab stands out as a pioneering proposal.

UFSM has already demonstrated its capacity to generate innovative businesses in this field with companies such as Baristo and Delivery Much, which were founded by UFSM students, supported by the Pulsar Technology Incubator, and have since consolidated their presence in the national market. The new laboratory builds on this track record by providing specialized infrastructure to enable other initiatives to emerge and develop with greater technical robustness.

The laboratory also has the potential to operate internationally, in connection with other innovation environments, research laboratories, and collaborative networks worldwide. Companies in this sector have been reshaping food systems through technologies applied to food processing, the development of new ingredients and products, alternative proteins, delivery platforms, traceability, retail, food service, and solutions aimed at reducing waste. The goal is to make the food chain more efficient, safe, and sustainable while meeting the growing demand for high-quality food with a lower environmental impact.

The Foodtech FabLab

More than a laboratory, the Foodtech FabLab is a structured innovation platform designed to transform ideas into viable, sustainable, and regulatory-compliant solutions. Its organization is based on strategic pillars (disruptive technologies, sustainability, and regulatory affairs), which operate in an integrated manner to reduce risks, accelerate validation processes, and expand the market potential of developed projects.

The infrastructure includes the Food Maker Space, the Experience Box for sensory analysis, Kitchen 3.0, and meeting rooms for collaboration with partners. Within its technological core, the laboratory is equipped with tools such as a 3D food printer, a continuous pasteurizer, a protein extruder, a solvent-free aroma extractor, a nano-emulsifier, and drying systems. This combination enables the development and testing of solutions across multiple fronts, including minimally processed vegetables, functional beverages, animal- and plant-based proteins, emulsions, natural aromas, applications involving microorganisms, pasta, and bakery products.

In practice, researchers, startups, and entrepreneurs will be able to prototype new ingredients, reformulate products, validate industrial processes at a pilot scale, and test production models before investing in commercial-scale operations. The environment was designed to shorten the cycle between concept, technical validation, and market entry, reducing technological and economic uncertainties.

Sustainability is not only a guiding principle but also a measurable component of the production process. The experimental kitchen is equipped with sensors capable of monitoring the consumption of inputs, waste generation, leftovers, and water usage, enabling data-driven decision-making. This approach supports the development of products with a lower environmental footprint and contributes to the construction of more responsible and efficient supply chains.

The regulation pillar sets the Foodtech FabLab apart by integrating, from the outset, dialogue with municipal, state, and federal agencies. Regulation is one of the main challenges in the food industry, where strict standards of quality, safety, and public health are essential for the commercialization of new products. The laboratory will work closely with institutions such as the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, while also engaging with international regulatory references to ensure that innovations move forward with both technical and legal support.

The FabLab will provide technical support and consulting services to companies and startups, assisting them in understanding and meeting legal requirements from the early stages of development. As an intermediary, the lab will help streamline processes that are often complex, time-consuming, and frequently delay the launch of innovations due to regulatory non-compliance.

Another key commitment is talent development. The environment was designed to promote active, creative, and practical learning, stimulating both technical competencies and soft skills. The aim is to train specialists at UFSM (including students from the Bachelor’s programs in Nutrition and Food Technology, the Graduate Program in Food Science and Technology, and research groups in the field), as well as external professionals, thereby expanding its impact beyond the University.

Even before the inauguration, investments were made in human capital development. In 2025, InovaTec launched the FoodTech Skills program, focused on training students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to operate in food innovation environments. Initially centered on technical and regulatory content, the program now integrates theory and practice within the laboratory itself, preparing professionals to fully explore the potential of the new infrastructure. Approximately 100 individuals have already participated in Foodtech Skills activities covering product registration, laboratory best practices, sanitary regulations, advanced microwave systems, and food extrusion technologies.

The Inauguration

With a focus on openness and collaboration, the Foodtech FabLab is set to expand opportunities for connection between the university, the community, the market, and industry. Located in Building 61H at the InovaTec UFSM Technological Park, the space fosters strategic partnerships, stimulates the creation of science- and technology-based businesses, and strengthens regional development.

In the coming months, the goal is to fully integrate the laboratory into academic and business activities, consolidating it as a reference hub in the field of food innovation. Through this articulation, the facility is expected to drive new projects, attract investment, and further position Santa Maria as a recognized center on the regional and national innovation map.

On March 31, InovaTec UFSM opened its doors to welcome the community into this new space, connect ideas, and celebrate another milestone in innovation at UFSM.

Text: Jéssica Missias Medeiros, Technical Communication Assistant at the InovaTec UFSM Technology Park.
Translation: Amy Lee, translator at the International Affairs Office 

Dr. Marli Matiko Anraku de Campos, from the Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Professional Master’s Program in Health Sciences, won first place in the Health Products and Innovation category with the project “Rapid Molecular Test for Tuberculosis.” Dr. Vanessa Ramos Kirsten, from the Graduate Program in Health and Rurality and the Graduate Program in Gerontology, won third place in the Successful SUS Research Experiences category with the project “Qualification of Food and Nutrition Surveillance: A continuing health education proposal to enhance the quality of healthcare in municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul.”

The Rapid Tuberculosis Test

The Rapid Tuberculosis Test was developed at UFSM’s Mycobacteriology Laboratory, coordinated by Dr. Campos, and aims to optimize diagnosis and facilitate treatment. According to the researcher, the award recognizes the work she has developed throughout her career. “This test can contribute to public health in Brazil. It is also very positive for UFSM, as we represent the university in different health-related contexts and events,” she notes. The researcher adds that “the technology is being enhanced to facilitate the maintenance of the methodology.”

Although tuberculosis treatment is provided free of charge through SUS, delays in diagnosis remain a major challenge. On average, the time between symptom onset and the beginning of treatment is around 11 weeks. This delay is due both to patients’ late recognition of symptoms and to inefficiencies in the diagnostic process. These data were published in a study conducted by the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and Johns Hopkins University.

Campos emphasizes that the main strategy to combat the disease is the early initiation of treatment and, in her view, this test may contribute greatly to that. “Nowadays, when tuberculosis is suspected, the protocol is to request an X-ray and a sputum culture. The second procedure involves collecting a sample and placing it in a suitable environment for the bacillus to grow, if the bacteria are present. However, this growth takes around 20 to 60 days, which is incompatible with the patients’ needs. This test is an alternative to these traditional methods,” she explains.

Research on Improving Food and Nutrition Surveillance

Dr. Kirsten’s research began in 2021, after receiving funding through a SUS call for proposals. According to the professor, the award is a recognition of a topic that often receives less attention in research. “Many studies focus on the treatment and diagnosis of diseases, which is important, but our research addresses professional practices and the monitoring of the population’s food and nutritional status,” she explains.

The professor emphasizes that the award-winning project contributes to strengthening tools for addressing issues related to nutritional health. “People need to record these data so that we can identify existing problems in this area,” she states. Regarding the development of the research, Vanessa explains that the team issued public calls inviting healthcare professionals working in food and nutrition surveillance to share their experiences, in addition to developing a chatbot to support these workers. “We gathered these experiences, produced e-books, and created a chatbot that answers questions about professional practices related to improving food and nutrition surveillance,” she notes.

Regarding expectations for the future, Vanessa explains that a survey is currently being conducted across municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul, in order to identify those interested in further developing knowledge in the area of food and nutrition surveillance. “Based on these findings, we are organizing training initiatives. We aim to implement them at the state level, within regional health coordination offices. Our goal for 2026 is to strengthen outreach and capacity-building efforts,” she adds.

About the Award

The Science, Technology, and Innovation Incentive Award for SUS is a partnership between CNPq and the Ministry of Health. Its purpose is to recognize researchers, faculty members, and professionals from all fields whose work has made significant contributions to SUS, in alignment with the National Policy for Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health.

The award is divided into five categories:

• Doctoral Dissertations
• Master’s Theses
• Health Products and Innovation
• Successful SUS Research Experiences 
• Articles Published in an Indexed Journal

Information about future editions can be found on the Brazilian Government’s official website.

Text: Pedro Moro, Journalism student and intern at the News Agency
Photos: Marli Anraku’s personal archive
Editing: Mariana Henriques, journalist

A faculty member at the UFSM Physical Education and Sports Center (CEFD), Felipe Schuch is coordinator of the Research Group on Exercise and Mental Health (Gepesm) at UFSM. In addition, he serves as an advisor in the graduate programs in Movement Sciences and Rehabilitation at UFSM and in Psychiatry and Mental Health at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). He serves on two task forces: one for the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry, focusing on lifestyle medicine for depression, and another for the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, focusing on physical exercise and nutrition. For five consecutive years (2020 to 2024), he was listed as one of the most cited authors in the “Psychology and Psychiatry” field on the Clarivate/Web of Science list.

How the survey works

Bori and Overton’s analysis considers public policy documents released between 2019 and July 2025. This includes technical reports, expert opinions, guidelines, clinical guidelines, documents from multilateral organizations, and official materials produced by national and international governments. Each researcher listed has at least 150 citations in strategic documents, indicating direct influence on the development of public policies.

Overton, the database used in the study, tracks millions of documents worldwide and identifies where scientific knowledge is used to guide decisions. “It is not just about measuring academic impact, but real impact: which voices in science are mobilized when decisions must be made regarding health, climate, the economy, or inequality,” states the report.

Felipe Schuch notes that, although he was familiar with other lists, he was unaware of this specific metric. “I kept track of other metrics, but not this one in particular. It’s a great recognition for UFSM and for Brazilian science, because it shows that what we do isn’t irrelevant, but rather something that produces real results.”

Schuch’s work and why he appears on the list

Schuch works in the field that investigates the relationship between physical activity, lifestyle, and mental health. His focus is on understanding how different levels of physical activity influence symptoms, risks, and the progression of disorders such as depression and anxiety.

According to Schuch, some of his most cited studies in public policy documents are:

• A meta-analysis published in 2016, which assesses the effects of physical exercise on depressive symptoms in people with depression;
• A 2018 study demonstrating how physical activity reduces the risk of developing depressive symptoms or disorders;
• A 2022 article in the American Journal of Psychiatry, which calculates the minimum amount of physical activity needed to generate benefits, as well as estimating the dose-response relationship.

This research has informed everything from general exercise recommendations to clinical guidelines and national mental health promotion strategies. “The importance of being on this list,” Schuch reflects, “is to show the impact our work has and how it can influence decisions, behaviors, and policies around the world.”

According to him, impact is measured not only by the number of citations but by the social utility of the knowledge. “This recognition shows that our research is making an impact beyond university walls. What matters most is seeing which documents feature this information and how it drives real social change.”

Ranking among the most influential Brazilian researchers

According to the published list, the professor is credited with 219 citations in public policy documents, stemming from 64 scientific articles. The ranking, led by researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), shows that Brazilian science has played a fundamental role in the formulation of public policies, albeit unevenly across fields and researcher profiles. Health, the environment, and food account for the majority of the influence.

Professor Felipe Schuch also spoke about his research and projects in an interview with the program Radar Esportivo on UniFM 107.9 radio, which is available at this link.

Text: Marina Brignol, journalism student and News Agency intern
Photos: personal archive
Editing: Lucas Casali
Translation: Amy Graham Lee

Original Name: Instituto Superior Politécnico São João Bosco

Location: Guinea-Bissau

Agreement type: International Cooperation Agreement 

Objective: Both signatory institutions will seek to strengthen technical-scientific and cultural relations, enhance the productivity of teaching, and expand exchange and cooperation with the aim of strengthening institutional scientific research and development programs between the two countries.

Validity period: 02/12/2026 – 02/12/2030 

Work Plan Director: International Affairs Office (DRI)

Original Name:Royal College os Surgeaons (RCSI)

Location: Ireland

Agreement type: International Cooperation Agreement 

Objective: Technical-scientific and cultural cooperation. It provides for exchange.

Validity period: 05/02/2026 – 05/02/2030 

Work Plan Director: Mauro Schneider Oliveira

Original Name: Tekirdağ Namık Kemal Üniversitesi 

Location: Türkiye

Agreement type: International Cooperation Agreement 

Objective: Cooperation will include the transfer of knowledge and experience and/or any other activities of mutual interest related to teaching, research, university administration, and human resource development, including the exchange of faculty, students, and administrative staff.

Validity period: 05/28/2025 – 05/28/2035 

Work Plan Director: Gustavo Brunetto

https://www.pau.edu.tr/pau/en 

Original Name: Pamukkale University

Location: Türkiye

Agreement type: International Cooperation Agreement 

Objective: Both signatory institutions shall seek to promote and implement programs of technical-scientific and cultural cooperation, in accordance with the legislation in force in their respective countries and with the norms of International Law.

Validity period: 02/12/2026 – 02/12/2030 

Work Plan Director: International Affairs Office (DRI)

This scale is usually used to assess depression, but in this project, it is applied to other diagnoses, such as generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic, and post-traumatic stress. The answers given to the 13 questions are analyzed using Item Response Theory (IRT), the same tool used by the National High School Exam (Enem) to calculate student performance, which assigns a diagnostic probability rate and symptom level for each condition.

IRT analyzes not only the patient's responses, but also the structure of the questionnaire and allows for an estimation of psychological disorders and their level of intensity based on the probability of each response. This methodology offers greater accuracy than Classical Test Theory (CTT), which is based solely on the total points obtained in the questionnaire.

“The idea is not to replace psychiatric diagnoses, which are complex and should always be done by professionals, but to serve as an aid, based on scientific evidence and statistical data, for the rapid screening of multiple conditions,” says Gabriele dos Santos Jobim (eighth-semester medical student at UFSM and undergraduate research scholarship recipient), who is the lead author of the project.

In addition to its application for multiple diagnoses and the use of IRT to analyze response patterns and offer more accurate and personalized results, the project stands out for its use of risk calculators, already popular in other areas of medicine but still little used in psychiatry. The work was published as an article in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, an international journal in the field of mental health.

The work was supervised by UFSM Professor of Medicine Maurício Hoffmann and involved researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP), the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), and the Center for Research and Innovation in Mental Health (Cism). The SMFQ Calculator is available online. To use the tool, the professional responsible for monitoring must register his or her email address.

Innovation in the application of questionnaires and calculation methodologies

The idea for the project came about when Gabriele was analyzing the database of the Brazilian High-Risk Cohort Study, a study that has applied several questionnaires on psychopathological disorders since 2010. In this research, several scales were applied to understand the symptoms and how often they appeared.

During the analysis, Gabriele began to think about applying these scales—which were used for specific disorders such as anxiety and depression—in a more comprehensive way, not with regards to specific conditions, but to a spectrum, the internalizing spectrum that covers conditions such as major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder. According to the student, this dimensional analysis of psychological pathologies has become popular within psychiatry.

“We arrived at this scale, the SMFQ, which is traditionally used for screening depression. But, when we analyzed the properties of the scale, we saw that it worked very well to detect other conditions on the internalizing spectrum within this database,” she recalls.

The internalizing spectrum refers to mental health conditions in which individuals often direct their suffering and negative emotions inward. Some of its conditions are anxiety, depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic, and post-traumatic stress, which are assessed by the calculator, and others related to them.

Within their group, the Mental Health Epidemiology Group, Professor João Pedro Gonçalves Pacheco and physician João Villanova do Amaral had been working on an application for the digital application of another scale, with the aim of improving its statistical accuracy.

“The ideas of digitizing the scale, using it to track more than one condition, and incorporating Item Response Theory for calculations that cannot be done with a simple sum by hand, were integrated and aligned with the idea of making this calculator.”

These scales are usually applied in printed form and the score is evaluated based on Classical Test Theory, which adds up the answers for each item to generate a final score. However, this form of analyzing results has been criticized by researchers in the field, and the application of IRT has been seen as a more efficient alternative, but one that requires more resources.

“IRT involves very complex calculations that cannot be done on paper; you need software to use it quickly in clinical practice. The calculator can do that,” explains Gabriele. With the analysis of the High-Risk Cohort data, a specific IRT was generated for the SMFQ scale.

Text: Bernardo Silva, journalism student and news agency intern
Graphic design: Daniel De Carli
Editing: Lucas Casali
Tranlation: Daniela do Canto 

Original Name: Haute École de Commerce et de Management (HECM)

Location: Porto-Novo, Benin

Agreement type: International Cooperation Agreement. 

Objective: Both signatory institutions will seek to strengthen technical, scientific, and cultural relations, improve teaching productivity, and increase exchange and cooperation with the aim of strengthening institutional scientific research and development programs between the two countries.

Validity period: 12/10/2025 – 12/10/2030

Português:
Durante o período de férias acadêmicas (de 12 de dezembro de 2025 a 27 de fevereiro de 2026) a Diretoria de Relações Internacionais atenderá das 08h às 14h.

English:
During the academic break (from December 12, 2025 to February 27, 2026), the International Affairs Office will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Español
Durante las vacaciones académicas (12 de diciembre de 2025 a 27 de febrero de 2026), la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales atenderá de 08:00 a 14:00.

Français
Pendant les vacances universitaires (12 décembre 2025 – 27 février 2026), le Bureau des Affaires Internationales sera ouverte de 8h00 à 14h00.

UFSM has updated its first simplified call for the admission of international students to its graduate programs. For the new semester, a total of 20 openings in the master’s program and 09 openings in the doctoral program (two scholarships) are available across nine participating graduate programs.

Applications are open until August 20. The selection process is simplified and conducted remotely. The start date for course activities range from October to November, 2025.

Click on the button bellow to access the call for applications: 

Call for applications – Graduate Degree Programs for International Students

This pioneering initiative is the result of a joint effort between the Provost Office for Graduate Studies and Research (PRPGP) and the International Affairs Office (SAI).

We would like to inform you that, during the academic break, from July 18 to August 1, 2025, the International Affairs Office will operate from 8 AM to 2 PM.

Informamos que, durante el receso académico, del 18 de julio al 1 de agosto de 2025, la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales permanecerá abierta de 8h a 14h.

Nous vous informons que, pendant la pause académique, du 18 juillet au 1ᵉʳ août 2025, le Bureau des Affaires Internationales sera ouvert de 8h à 14h.

The Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for six (6) positions for Foreign Visiting Professors, in the following fields of expertise:

• Soil Science
• Food Science and Technology
• Astronomy / Physics
• Media and Communication
• Engineering / Sanitary Engineering
• Pharmacy

Application Period:
May 5, 2025, to June 3, 2025

Minimum Requirements:
1. A doctoral degree (PhD) awarded at least five (5) years prior to the application date;
2. Teaching experience and recognized expertise in the relevant area or sub-area;
3. Relevant academic output (scientific publications, research, etc.) from the past five (5) years.
Applicants must submit all required documentation as specified in the Call. The selection will be based on an evaluation of the candidate’s academic and professional curriculum.

Remuneration:
Compensation will be based on the professor’s work regime, as outlined in the table available in the Call For Aplication. 

Contract Duration:
The selected candidate will receive a non-renewable contract for three (3) months, with the option to work remotely up to 50% of the time.

For additional information, see the full Call for Appliction:

• Soil Science
• Food Science and Technology
• Astronomy / Physics
• Media and Communication
• Engineering / Sanitary Engineering
• Pharmacy

Application Period:
May 5, 2025, to June 3, 2025

Minimum Requirements:
1. A doctoral degree (PhD) awarded at least five (5) years prior to the application date;
2. Teaching experience and recognized expertise in the relevant area or sub-area;
3. Relevant academic output (scientific publications, research, etc.) from the past five (5) years.
Applicants must submit all required documentation as specified in the Call. The selection will be based on an evaluation of the candidate’s academic and professional curriculum.

Remuneration:
Compensation will be based on the professor's work regime, as outlined in the table available in the Call For Aplication. 

Contract Duration:
The selected candidate will receive a non-renewable contract for three (3) months, with the option to work remotely up to 50% of the time.

For additional information, see the full Call for Appliction:

UFSM has uptdated its first simplified call for the admission of international students to its graduate programs. For the new semester, a total of 20 openings in the master’s program and 09 openings in the doctoral program (two scholarships) are available across nine participating graduate programs.

Applications are open until August 20. The selection process is simplified and conducted remotely. The start date for course activities is flexible, ranging from October to November, 2025.

Click on the button bellow to access the call for applications: 

Applications are open until February 28. The selection process is simplified and conducted remotely. The start date for course activities is flexible, ranging from April to July 2025.

This pioneering initiative is the result of a joint effort between the Provost Office for Graduate Studies and Research (PRPGP) and the International Affairs Office (SAI). It aligns with Challenge 1 – Internationalization of the Institutional Development Plan (PDI) 2016-2026 and contributes to strengthening UFSM's graduate programs. 

Click on the button bellow to access the call for aplications. 

An image featuring significant paleontological finds stored at the Center for Paleontological Research (CAPPA) of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) was highlighted in Nature magazine's annual selection of the best scientific images of 2024, one of the most renowned scientific journals in the world.

Excellence in Paleontological Research at UFSM

The Santa Maria region, globally recognized for housing one of the richest fossil heritages in the world, has been essential in understanding the evolution of terrestrial vertebrates. Located in São João do Polêsine, CAPPA/UFSM has stood out in research, in the training of new scientists, and in scientific outreach about the evolutionary history of vertebrates. "It is amazing to see how the paleontological research we produce at UFSM has gained worldwide recognition, increasingly boosting the internationalization of our University," says Temp Müller.

Text: Luciane Treulieb, journalist

Image: Reproduction/Nature. Photograph: Diego Vara/Reuters

During the academic break (December 23, 2024, to March 9, 2025), the International Affairs Office's working hours will be from 8 AM to 2 PM. Emergency assistance can be requested at the phone number +55 55 99166-0253.

Note: On December 24th and 31st, the International Affairs Office will provide remote services only due to the end-of-year celebrations. We wish everyone happy holidays and a prosperous New Year!