The Graduate Program in Chemistry at the Chemistry Institute of UERJ (IQ/UERJ). is the result of a series of actions taken in the 1990s.
The idea of creating a graduate program emerged between 1992 and 1995. Thus, between 1994 and 1995, Prof. José Augusto Rosemberg, then head of the Department of Biochemical Process Technology, structured the Specialization course in Environmental Chemistry (Lato Sensu). However, his unfortunate passing delayed the implementation of the program.
In 1996, with the arrival of Prof. Carlos Russo, the program was launched. In 1998, the Chemistry Institute (IQ) experienced a significant advancement in research quality with the addition of five PhD-level professors specialized in polymers.
These professors joined three other existing professors, one with a PhD in polymers and two in organic chemistry, to create a new Specialization Course in Polymers. This course was launched in 1999 under the coordination of Professor Fernanda MB Coutinho. In the two years that followed, this group secured fundings from CNPq and FAPERJ with some research projects in the area of polymers and new research laboratories were built and equipped.
After the consolidation of the group, they focused their efforts on developing a proposal for a Strictu Sensu Graduate Program (Master’s degree). Integrating several areas of chemistry and considering environmental issues, the group focused its proposal on the environmental area, which in the State of Rio de Janeiro was (and still is) an important differential in relation to other existing graduate programs. Thus, the Chemistry Graduate Program in (PPGQ) at the Chemistry Institute of Rio de Janeiro State University (IQ/UERJ) was approved by CAPES in 2003 with a grade of 4 and the first class began its activities in 2004.
The doctoral program was also approved with a grade of 4 in 2008. Over the years, the Graduate Program in Chemistry has undergone renewal to meet CAPES requirements and also to integrate new faculty members who have been admitted to IQ/UERJ and PPGQ.
Currently, the program offers the Academic Master’s and Doctoral courses with three lines of research: 1) Chemistry and Materials Technology; 2) Environmental Chemistry and Sustainability and 3) Multifunctional Molecular Compounds. It currently has a 21 highly qualified faculty members in the three lines of research.
