International Visit by Prof. Siddhartho Paul (Purdue University) Boosts Strategic Cooperation at PPGEC

On March 20, 2026, the Graduate Program in Civil Engineering (PPGEC) at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) hosted Professor Siddhartho Paul from Purdue University (USA). This meeting marks a significant step in consolidating the program as a center of excellence, currently holding a Grade 6 rating from CAPES.

Interdisciplinarity and Geospatial Innovation

Professor Siddhartho Paul, an Assistant Professor of Agronomy at Purdue, is an expert in Geospatial Science. His research focuses on developing tools for precision agriculture and sustainable land management through Earth Observation techniques.

The visit fostered a direct dialogue with PPGEC’s Spatial Information area—established in 2005—and engaged the program’s other specialties, highlighting key synergies.

A New Horizon: CAPES-Purdue Agreement (2026–2036)

A central theme of the visit was alignment with the unprecedented cooperation agreement between CAPES and Purdue University. Valid for 10 years, this institutional partnership focuses on strategic areas, including Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) and Natural Resources.

For PPGEC researchers and students, the agreement opens doors for:

• Joint Research Projects: Scheduled to begin in 2026.
• Academic Mobility: Availability of PhD Sandwich scholarships and Postdoctoral fellowships in the United States.
• Collaboration Networks: A transition from individual grants toward building long-term institutional networks.

Commitment to Excellence and Social Impact

With over 610 graduates by 2024 and high-impact intellectual production, PPGEC continues to expand its infrastructure and management processes.

Collaborating with elite institutions like Purdue reinforces our mission to train highly skilled human resources capable of generating technological innovations that meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).