The 6th Unicamp Summer Course in Pharmacology took place from January 26 to 30, 2026, offered by the Graduate Program in Pharmacology. The Course aims to provide university extension–level training for undergraduate students and recent graduates, as well as to present the research lines, faculty members, and routine of the Program. An interesting aspect is that the Course is entirely made by the Program’s own master’s and doctoral students, from event organization to the lectures.
The 6th edition of the Course received 43 applications from across Brazil and selected 16 participants. The finalists came from six Brazilian states: 9 from São Paulo; 3 from Minas Gerais; and 1 each from Espírito Santo, Paraná, Piauí, and Rio Grande do Norte. Most of the selected participants were women (13) and candidates from public institutions (9). The admitted students are currently enrolled in or have graduated from Pharmacy (7), Biomedicine (6), Chemistry (2), and Biotechnology (1). All participants already had some contact with research through undergraduate research programs and expressed an ambition to pursue an academic career.
Many of the activities took place at the Department of Pharmacology of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Unicamp, with some events held in other buildings or conducted as webinars. The schedule was packed with lectures, practical and theoretical classes, laboratory visits, workshops, raffles, and moments reserved for social interaction among students, researchers, and sponsors.
Opening
The opening of the event was conducted by Prof. Dr. Fabiola Zakia Taufic Monica, coordinator of the Program and researcher. She made it clear that one of the main objectives of the Course is to attract new students to the Graduate Program. Accordingly, she presented what the Program has to offer, the advantages of conducting research at Unicamp and in the state of São Paulo, and emphasized that Professors were open to holding interviews with interested candidates. With this welcoming spirit, the Course continued throughout the week, presenting its different research groups and placing Course participants in direct contact with them.
The Course also included the participation of external representatives. The event was sponsored by Alesco, Bonther, Café Artesanal Morro Jaqueto, Harpia, Illumina, Interprise MedChemExpress, Merse, and SBFTE, which funded the event, set up booths, and brought representatives to give lectures. We highlight the lecture by Tiago Costa, member of SBFTE Jovem, who discussed the importance of young researchers in Scientific Societies. Another notable external speaker was Dr. Junia Rebelo (Senior Medical Science Liaison at Adium), who addressed career possibilities for master’s and doctoral graduates beyond academia.
During the first day of the Course, some students were interviewed about their expectations for the event. Many reported being especially excited about the practical classes, such as Giselle Letícia Dias Pereira, a Biotechnology student at the Federal University of Uberlândia: “I am very excited about the practical classes. I really want to have this bench experience. There are many procedures here that I have never done in my life. Pharmacology at my university does not have practical classes. […] I really want to venture into this.” Herick José Cunha Chaves, an undergraduate student in Biomedicine at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, shared the same expectation: “Almost every day there is some kind of practical class, you know? This is something that, at my university at least, there aren’t that many practical classes.”
In fact, Herick already attended the Course with two potential supervisors in mind for a future master’s degree: Prof. Dr. Edson Antunes or Prof. Dr. Gilberto De Nucci. His plan is to continue his undergraduate research involving the reproductive system. He is not the only one aiming to connect with a faculty member. João Manoel Pinheiro, a Pharmacy student at the Federal University of Paraná, has worked in Toxicology for three years. His research group encouraged him to seek contact with CIATox at Unicamp, an international reference in the field. João is already in contact with Prof. Dr. José Luiz da Costa (CIATox) and plans to enroll in the Graduate Program in Pharmacology in the second semester of 2026. Gabrielly Ketly Silva Araujo, a Pharmacy graduate from PUC Campinas, plans to begin her master’s degree in the first semester of 2026 under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Fabiola, with the goal of becoming a faculty member in the future: “There are teachers in my family. […] I have always greatly admired teaching, and my undergraduate professors inspired me a lot too.”
Organizing Committee’s Perspective
The organizing committee of the sixth edition of the Course consisted exclusively of members who had not organized previous editions. It was formed by Prof. Dr. Renato Simões Gaspar, Sandra Tella (doctoral student), Nathalia Cantuária (doctoral student), Sarah Talone (master’s student), Jeniffer Lima (master’s student), and Clarissa Horioka (master’s student). In interviews, some members reported on their experience: “It was challenging throughout the entire organization process up to this point. Especially in the last few days, when some unforeseen events happened. But now that things have started to happen, it has actually been quite smooth. It has flowed well,” said Sarah. She further detailed some of the setbacks: “Sometimes there are mismatches with speakers. Schedule changes. Sometimes someone gets sick. You can’t predict these things, you know? Then you have to find a way to fit something else in.” Nathalia reported that the 6th edition committee wanted to leave its mark: “The logo was the first thing we changed. We wanted something that represented Unicamp’s Pharmacology. Symbols that would bring a little bit of each research line.” They also highlighted that, based on this, they rethought the entire visual identity of the Course, which required a great deal of work. Nathalia also thanked the sponsors: “What helps a lot is the amount of sponsorship. The more sponsorship we have, the more things we are able to do.”
Closing
After a week of intense learning, the Course reached its final day with lunch and interaction with Program’s Professors. In a closing atmosphere, students were again approached to share their experiences. Many stated that their expectations were exceeded, such as Manuela Moscardi Segreto Córdoba, a graduate in Biomedicine from PUC Campinas: “I didn’t think UNICAMP would have such open arms to welcome students from other universities. I felt very welcomed.” She also highlighted some aspects of the event: “One thing I really liked about the Course is that we can see several of the areas addressed in the Program.” […] “And I also liked this interaction with professors and students. I think it brings us closer to the reality of what happens behind the presentations. Behind the lab coats.”
The Graduate Program in Pharmacology of Unicamp wishes that all students achieve their academic goals, whether or not they are affiliated with the Program. We will remain with our doors open to welcome them in the future.
Written by:
Mia Schezaro Ramos
Pharmacist. Ph.D. in Pharmacology. Science journalist, illustrator, trans, Nintendo enthusiast, K-pop fan, and dependent on physical exercise to stay sane.