The PpgBioEF [Graduate Program in Structural and Functional Biology] was created in July 2013 as the result of the scientific integration of professors from the departments of Morphology, Physiology and Biophysics and Pharmacology of Biosciences Center of UFRN, which offer courses and other academic activities in programs which are part of Biosciences Center, Health Sciences Center, Specialized Academic Unit in Agrarian Sciences, Humanities, Letters and Arts Center and Technological Sciences. In the undergraduate courses taught by these professors, it was observed a need to break away from the traditional approach of the Cartesian teaching and to promote an integration of cross-cutting contents encompassing a broad field of the biological sciences, which are the morphological sciences, approaching them from an interdisciplinary perspective. The diversified knowledge and the thematic integration of the professors' fields of practice allowed the development of the interdisciplinary teaching and research, in different lines, but all related to macro, microscopic and ultra-structural changes applied to the most varied biological and experimental processes. As a result of the group's integration, a consistent scientific production has been generated over the last years. In addition, the group develops activities related to scientific diffusion to the external community, especially through outreach actions linked to the Museum of Morphological Sciences (MCM). Today the program counts with advisors from outside the Biosciences Center (FACISA) and even from outside UFRN (UFERSA).

The Academic Master's course in Structural and Functional Biology aims to train professionals to practice teaching and research, with emphasis on the study of the morphophysiology of organic systems, within a multidisciplinary perspective. The research lines of the program for which vacancies are offered in this public notice are:

a) Cellular and Tissue Biology: Structural characterization of tissues and cells, as well as their plasticity in vertebrate organ systems. Approaches the morphofunctional study of the different body systems, comparative histophysiology, experimental pathology, stem cells and their applications.

b) Teaching in Morphofunctional Sciences: The line proposes the evaluation of the use of different languages, active methodologies and media to enrich and enable the teaching of curricular components in the area of morphofunctional sciences for students from different levels of education and students with special needs. special educational programs in the public and private network. In addition, training science teachers to disseminate knowledge of morphofunctional sciences through the PpgBioEF team of students and teachers, in partnership with the Museum of Morphological Sciences of UFRN. This line of research will provide three units of service and extension: 1) New methodological teaching strategies in morphophysiology; 2) Continuing education of science teachers; 3) Distance learning and new media; 4) Inclusive education.

c) Regulation of the Body: Study of the nervous system of vertebrates at different levels, using cytochemical, pharmacological, ultrastructural, molecular and behavioral measurement techniques. It also addresses humoral control for the regulation of organic homeostasis.