The Graduate Program in Genetics and Plant Breeding (GP-GPB) was established in 1964 and is based in the Department of Genetics of the "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture (ESALQ). Our program grants both Master’s and Doctoral degrees. Outstanding students may apply directly to a Doctoral program from a bachelor´s degree. The GP-GPB ranks among the best graduate programs in crop science in Brazil and has graduated over 900 professionals working actively for the development of agricultural and basic sciences in private and public institutions.
The GP-GPB offers a broad array of courses, which are classified at the introductory level for those providing a generalized background and at the advanced level for those that include discussions in particular areas that are essential for professional development in genetics, as applied to the agricultural and basic sciences. The faculty members compete successfully for state and federal grants to fund projects, and most of their research is performed collaboratively with graduate students. We offer state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and access to research greenhouses, in addition to field experiment stations.
ESALQ ranks among the five world´s top universities in agriculture and, in addition to independent departments, it harbors core research facilities, such as those related to genomics, proteomics and metabolomics as well as advanced microscopy for cell biology. GP-GPB is internationally recognized for hosting several relevant courses, including The Brazilian Edition of the Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics in collaboration with institutions abroad.
Faculty members in our Program act as reviewers, editors or editors-in-chief for top scientific journals. Self-motivated and high-achieving students may participate in joint projects with international laboratories and within the scope of a dual-degree program. GP-GPB graduates have been very successful in obtaining positions in a wide range of organizations – universities, research institutes and private companies (e.g., agribusiness, non-profit, etc.) – in Brazil and abroad, where they have established leading groups in many fields.
Our students are interested in working on plant genetics (of crop, native or model species, including polyploids), as well as the molecular aspects of plant interactions with microorganisms. The 20 faculty members have a range of interests, including Quantitative Genetics and Plant Breeding, Statistical Genetics, Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Plant Molecular Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Physiological and Biochemical Genetics, Cytogenomics and Epigenetics, Bioenergy and, more recently, Systems Biology.
Our goal is to contribute to the generation of knowledge and the formation of outstanding researchers in Genetics, who ultimately specialize in solving old and emergent problems in agriculture, plant breeding, natural resources, genetic diversity, energy and/or the environment.
Master and Doctor in Sciences, major in Genetics and Plant Breeding
The graduate program in Genetics and Plant Breeding is accredited by CAPES, a governmental organization which is responsible for assessing and accrediting higher education institutions in Brazil, with a grading scale ranging 1-7, where 7 is the maximum score. In the most recent triennial assessment (2010-2012), the Genetics and Plant Breeding program scored 7.
Theses and dissertations defended at the University of São Paulo starting in 2001 have been made available for online research and download. The project is associated with the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD), sponsored by UNESCO and provides the option of browsing the Genetics and Plant Breeding program catalog by thesis, dissertation, author or college.