The Center for Marine Studies (“Campus Pontal do Paraná – Centro de Estudos do Mar” – CPP-CEM) is a satellite campus of the Federal University of Parana, located in Pontal do Parana, Brazil. Founded in 1982 as a marine research station, it has since developed into a full-fledged section of the University, hosting five undergraduate programs leading into Bachelors in Oceanography, Acquaculture Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Natural Sciences and a graduate program in Ocean and Coastal Systems, PGSISCO.

International cooperation has been a constant throughout CEM’s history, ranging from lab partnerships and hosting foreign scholars to doing Antarctic research. Recently, we’ve taken part in an international network to receive students from the International Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (EMBC+), lead by Ghent University, Belgium.

Ocean and Coastal Systems Graduate Program

Our graduate program is structured in four research areas:

1. Ocean and Coastal Dynamics

2. Biogeochemistry and Marine Pollution

3. Biology and Ecology of Ocean and Coastal Systems

4. Integrated Management of Coastal Areas

Regular applications for MSc and PhD candidates usually occur once a year and demand Portuguese proficiency (which may be waived by the Advisor), but we also welcome visiting students who are keen to do research in one of our labs. This can be arranged via the EMBC+ program or by directly contacting any of our Faculty.

Undergraduate student exchange program

The Federal University of Parana holds student exchange agreements with several universities from all over the world. Undergraduate students interested in spending some time at CEM should contact their own institution’s international relations department. They should be aware, however, that although many of our students and most of our Faculty is proficient in English, undergraduate classes are held entirely in Brazilian Portuguese.