Dr. Gustavo Seabra received his Ph.D. from the
Chemistry Department of Kansas State University in 2005, working as part of Prof. J.V. Ortiz's group, participating in the development and
applications of quantum mechanical methods for accurately predicting molecular
photoionization spectra. He then moved to the University of Florida,
Gainesville, for a postdoctoral position as part of the Quantum Theory Project, working with
Prof. Adrian Roitberg from the Chemistry Department, participating in the implementation
of hybrid quantum mechanical and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods for
simulating chemical reactions in complex environments, such as with enzymes or
solutions, pursuing the understanding of the molecular mechanism of such
reactions and exploring new drug candidates as transition state analogs.
After his postdoctoral work, he served for 10 years as a professor at the Federal University in Pernambuco, Brazil. In 2019, he was hired back by the University of Florida. He is now a
research associate professor in the College of Pharmacy, the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, and the Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery,
and Development (CNPD3), contributing his molecular modeling expertise to drug
discovery projects.
Dr. Luana Cassandra Breitenbach Barroso
Coelho has a degree in agricultural engineering from the Federal Rural
University of Pernambuco (1966), a master's in biochemistry from the Federal
University of Pernambuco, UFPE (1976), and a PhD in biochemistry from the University of
London (1982). She is a permanent professor of the graduate programs in
biochemistry and physiology (PPGBF) and biological sciences (PPGCB) at UFPE. Through
personnel training, she has already guided dozens of scientific initiation
students, including 50 masters and 30 doctors; co-supervised 13 masters and 12
doctors; and supervised 7 post-doctors. She is currently a research professor
at UFPE (CNPq level 1B researcher), with 248 published articles, 57 chapters
published in books, 7 edited books, 1 patent-filing application, and 654 works
published in annals of events. She has a breadth of experience working with
proteins, lectins, characterization processes, and biotechnological
applications of these and other biomolecules.
Dr. Thiago Henrique Napoleão has a Bachelor's degree in biological
sciences (2007), a Master's in biochemistry and physiology (2009), and a PhD in
biochemistry and physiology (2012) from the Federal University of Pernambuco
(UFPE). He is professor in the Department of
Biochemistry at UFPE, working in the undergraduate courses in biological
sciences, medicine, and speech therapy. He is a member of
the permanent faculty of the postgraduate programs in biochemistry and physiology
(PPGBqF) and in biological sciences (PPGCB) at UFPE. He is currently the
coordinator of PPGCB and UFPE. He was vice-coordinator of the undergraduate
course in biological sciences/bachelor's degree at UFPE (2016–2022) and
vice-coordinator of PPGCB/UUFPE (2020–2022). In October 2019, he received the
"Marcionilo Lins" Young Scientist Merit Award from the Pernambucana
Academy of Sciences. He has experience in the area of biochemistry, with an
emphasis on the chemistry of proteins and natural products, working mainly on
the following topics: purification, characterization, and evaluation of
biological activities and biotechnological applications of proteins (lectins,
enzymes, and protease inhibitors).
Dr. Thâmarah de Albuquerque Lima,
professor of the Biochemistry Department at the Federal University of
Pernambuco since 2021, graduated with a Bachelor's degree in biological
sciences (2010), a Master's degree (2012), and a PhD (2016) in biochemistry and
physiology, with all training carried out at the Federal University of
Pernambuco (UFPE). Dr. Thâmarah de Albuquerque Lima currently works as a
researcher at the Protein Biochemistry Laboratory (BioProt) of the Department
of Biochemistry at UFPE and is a permanent member of the postgraduate program
in biological sciences (PPGCb) (CAPES 6) and the postgraduate program in
biochemistry and physiology (PPGBqF) (CAPES 5). Dr. Thâmarah de Albuquerque
Lima also works on university extension actions at the Biosciences Center
(UFPE) and PPGCB. Dr. Thâmarah de Albuquerque Lima has experience in the areas
of protein biochemistry, insect biochemistry, and the bioprospecting of bioactive
compounds extracted from plants. Dr. Thâmarah de Albuquerque Lima is working
mainly on the following topics: natural insecticides in the biological control
of insects; studies of the insecticide action mechanism using techniques from
biochemistry, molecular biology, and histology; and the purification,
characterization, and assessment of biological activities and biotechnological
applications of proteins and essential oils.
Dr. Patrícia Maria Guedes Paiva graduated with her
Bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Federal University of
Rio Grande do Norte, her Master's degree in biochemistry from Federal
University of Pernambuco (UFPE), and her PhD in biological sciences (molecular
biology) from Federal University of São Paulo. She is a full professor at
UFPE in undergraduate biological sciences and postgraduate programs (PPG)
in biochemistry and physiology. She was the coordinator of the PPG in
biochemistry and physiology from October 2011 to May 2016, a member of the
Advisory Committee of the Foundation for the Support of Science and
Technology of the State of Pernambuco from October 2013 to
2017, a member of the Internal Committee of Scientific Initiation
Program of UFPE (2016-2024) and head of the Department of
Biochemistry (2018–2022). She has already supervised
several undergraduate students, 43 Master's students,
28 Doctors, and 3 post-doctorate students.
She is currently deputy head of the Department of Biochemistry, a member of
the Pernambuco Academy of Sciences, and is on the Board of the Brazilian
Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2021–2025). She is a
reviewer for international journals. She has experience in biochemistry,
with an emphasis on the purification and evaluation of antimicrobial and
insecticide activities of protease inhibitors, lectins, and secondary
metabolites, with a bibliography of 258 studies, 47 book
chapters, 3 books, and 3 patents.
