Professor Dr. Carlton A. Taft earned the Master of Science (Physics) at the University of Illinois (USA) in 1969, the Ph.D. in Physics at the Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas (CBPF) in 1975 and did post-doctoral work as a periodic senior visitor to the Chemistry Department, University of California, Berkeley; Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (USA) in 1988–1993. He was hired at CBPF in 1976 and worked his way through the decades from the assistant, associate to a full professor. He works in multidisciplinary areas with focus on theoretical-computational simulation, physical/chemical/biological/engineering applications in Molecular and Material Sciences.

Prof. Dr. Paulo Fernando Almeida completed the master’s degree in Food Science at the University of Campinas in 1984, the Ph.D. in Food Technology at UNICAMP in 1988 and his post-doctorate at the University of Florida (1996–1998) in Biotechnology and Food Science. His research involves projects associated with biotechnology, biophotonics and bioelectromodulation for the production of microbial bioactives such as biopolymers, biosurfactants and enzymes. He also studies recuperation of petroleum, production of fertilizers from solid wastes and strategic plans for restoration of polluted rivers.