Researcher Túlio Machado, who holds a master’s degree from the Graduate Program in Agricultural Microbiology, has just been granted a place on the full PhD program at Purdue University, in the state of Indiana, USA. Túlio will start the course in August, after being one of two Brazilian students selected by the CAPES/Purdue Agriculture PhD Fellows Program. He will spend up to five years at the new university and will have his studies funded by CAPES and the American educational institution.

“This doctorate means, for me, reaching a level in my academic career that I had never imagined. Having this opportunity means putting all my dreams into practice, being able to work at one of the best universities in the world,” says he, who applied for the scholarship in the second half of 2022, when he was still finishing his master’s degree at UFV. “I’ve always had a lot of support from the department as a whole, from the PPG coordinators, from the secretariat. I even found out about this opportunity in the USA through the PPG secretariat.”

During his master’s degree, Túlio worked on developing a kit based on real-time PCR to identify microorganisms contaminating beer, under the guidance of Professor Marcos Rogério Tótola. In this new stage, his research will be a little different. “I’m also going to use molecular biology, metagenome techniques and everything else, but I’m going to study rhizosphere microorganisms, especially from soybeans and corn. The goal is to get to know the microbiota there and understand the relationships of some specific groups that have been in this microbiota for a long time.” In the USA, Túlio will be supervised by Professor Roland Wilhelm.

“I’m sure that this opportunity will provide great achievements, bringing greater understanding of biodiversity in the soil and the generation of new sustainable agricultural systems,” he says, already planning exchanges and partnerships with his Brazilian colleagues. “I intend to continue in this area, offer as much as I can to UFV, form partnerships and open doors not only for myself, but for other students too.”

Túlio had already had an international experience while still an undergraduate, but he highlights the new atmosphere that awaits him in Indiana. “I’ve studied abroad before, but this will be the first time I’ve had the mission of carrying out research, and I’ll be staying for much longer. So I’m really looking forward to it”. Despite the challenge of being at a new institution and in a different culture, he says he’s prepared. “Those who study at UFV, both undergraduate and postgraduate, leave very well prepared for any opportunity. Our curriculum and program content at the PPG is excellent. And there’s also the prestige of UFV, which is internationally recognized. Of course we’re always learning, it will be a challenge, but I’m ready.”