History
The Institute of Chemistry at USP was founded in 1970 during the University Reform, bringing together faculty from various units: the former Department of Chemistry of the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters (FFCL), the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, and the Department of Chemical Engineering of the Polytechnic School.
The Graduate Program in Chemistry was born alongside the Institute. In February 1970, the Master’s and Doctoral programs began in the four classic areas: Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry.
Historical Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1934 | Founding of USP and start of the Chemistry program at FFCL |
| 1970 | Creation of IQ-USP and the Graduate Program |
| 1970 | First Master’s defense in Chemistry |
| 1970 | Recognition as Center of Excellence by CNPq |
| 1972 | First Doctoral defense in Chemistry |
| 1973 | Official accreditation by the Federal Council of Education |
| 2011 | Unified degree title (Master/Doctor in Chemistry, without specific area) |
| 2020 | 50 years of IQ-USP |
| 2024 | Single concentration area: Chemistry |
Leadership Development and Impact on Brazilian Chemistry
The Program acts as a training hub for Brazilian Chemistry, following its founders’ idea: to train researchers capable of creating new groups, not just filling existing positions.
Many of the faculty who participated in creating the program were trained abroad in the decades preceding the creation of IQ-USP. Their ideas established the culture of the doctorate as original production, the structured research group model, and the requirement for relevant international publication. The first doctors trained by IQ-USP spread throughout the country and were decisive in creating graduate programs at UNICAMP, UFMG, UFRJ, UFSC, UFPR, UNESP, UFPE, UFBA, UFC, among others. In many cases, the first faculty member with a doctorate in Chemistry at a Brazilian university was an IQ-USP graduate.
Subsequent generations expanded this legacy: they created new subfields, established international networks, and began publishing consistently in high-impact journals. Today, common traits inherited from IQ-USP (strong theoretical foundation, appreciation of intellectual autonomy, rigorous training in scientific method) are recognizable in many Chemistry departments across Brazil.
With more than 2,000 master’s and doctoral graduates, the program has helped expand graduate education in the country and advance research, development, and innovation. The program’s graduates are where the future of Chemistry is being built.
Explore the academic genealogy of faculty and alumni at Academic Tree. To learn more about the Institute’s history, visit IQ-USP Memory.