Presentation of the PPGF
The Graduate Program in Physics at the Federal University of Goiás (PPGF-UFG) stands as a landmark of academic excellence in the Central-West region of Brazil. Its origins date back to 1992, with the creation of the Master’s course in Physics, initially linked to the former Institute of Mathematics and Physics. In 1997, with the establishment of the Institute of Physics, the program gained its own structure and, in 2008, was expanded with the implementation of the Doctorate course, consolidating itself as a reference center in teaching, research, and the training of highly qualified human resources. Since its foundation, the PPGF has been committed to producing high-impact scientific knowledge and to contributing to regional and national development.
The program’s trajectory can also be understood through its leadership, which has played a decisive role in institutional consolidation. Among the early coordinators were Waldemar Wolney Filho (1992–1993), Montserrat Freixa Pascoal (1993–1995), Álvaro de Almeida Caparica (1995–1996), Fernando Pelegrini (1997–2002), and José Nicodemos Teixeira Rabelo (2002–2006). They were succeeded by Basilio Baseia (2006–2009), Jesiel Freitas Carvalho (2009–2012), Tertius Lima da Fonseca (2012–2015), Marcos Antônio de Castro (2015–2018), and Andris Figueiroa Bakuzis (2018–2021), who guided the program through key stages of growth and diversification. Between 2021 and 2025, the program was coordinated by Professor Lucas Chibebe Céleri, with Professor Leandro Félix de Sousa Bufaiçal as Vice-Coordinator, during a period marked by strategic consolidation and internationalization. As of 2025, the program is led by Professor Leandro Félix de Sousa Bufaiçal, with Professor Guilherme Colherinhas de Oliveira as Vice-Coordinator, ensuring continuity and further institutional strengthening.
A milestone in the PPGF’s development has been the recognition of its quality by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). In the 2010–2012 triennial evaluation, the program was rated 4, consolidating its position at the national level. In the following quadrennium, 2013–2016, it advanced to a rating of 5, reflecting its growing scientific production and the qualification of its graduates. The peak came in the 2017–2020 evaluation, when the program achieved a rating of 6, a level of international excellence. This achievement recognized not only the quality of the research and training provided by the PPGF, but also its consolidation as a national reference in Physics.
The program’s strength lies in the diversity and relevance of its research areas. Encompassing both traditional fields, such as Strongly Correlated Systems and Particles and Fields, and emerging areas, such as Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and Quantum Information, the PPGF is distinguished by its multidisciplinary character. This is supported by a highly qualified and productive faculty, who publish in leading journals, register patents, organize scientific events, and establish national and international collaborations. The student body plays an active role in academic activities, including research internships abroad, the annual Graduate Workshop, and teaching assistantships, thus ensuring comprehensive scientific and pedagogical training.
In sum, the history of the PPGF-UFG reflects a continuous process of institutional, academic, and scientific consolidation. From the pioneering creation of the Master’s program to the consolidation of the Doctorate, through the leadership of its coordinators and the progressive elevation of its CAPES rating, the program has established itself as a benchmark of excellence. Its commitment to knowledge production, human resource training, and internationalization reaffirms its importance for the advancement of science in Brazil and for the international projection of research in Physics.