The Prodigal Son Returns: Professor Alisson Meza Joins UFMS as a Faculty Member in Organic Synthesis
The Institute of Chemistry at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (INQUI/UFMS) will welcome Professor Alisson Meza Novais as its new faculty member in the field of Organic Synthesis. The researcher is returning to the institution where he began his scientific training and developed a significant part of his academic career. He will now contribute to teaching, research, outreach, and innovation at UFMS.
Professor Alisson’s appointment was marked by an outstanding achievement: he earned the highest overall score among all candidates across every field included in the selection process, not only among those competing for the Organic Synthesis position. This result highlights his strong academic background, professional experience, and high level of scientific qualification, making his return to UFMS even more significant.
Professor Alisson will fill the position previously held by Professor Dênis Pires de Lima, who retired after an important career dedicated to student training and to the advancement of Organic Chemistry at the University. His arrival therefore represents both continuity and renewal in a strategic area for INQUI and for the University’s undergraduate and graduate programs.
Professor Alisson earned his degree in Biological Sciences from UFMS in 2008 and began his research activities at the Laboratory of Synthesis and Transformation of Organic Molecules (SINTMOL) in 2007 under the supervision of Professor Adilson Beatriz. From the beginning, his training was characterized by an interdisciplinary approach integrating organic synthesis, biotransformation, and biological activity assessment.
Alisson at LP4 in 2007, as an undergraduate research student.
At UFMS, he completed his master’s degree in Chemistry in 2011, conducting studies related to the synthesis of bioactive resorcinolic lipids, particularly cytosporones and their analogues. He subsequently earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2015, expanding his research to include the synthesis of bioactive compounds and polymeric materials for biomedical applications and controlled drug delivery. During his doctoral studies, he completed a research internship at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where he worked with micellar systems and dendrimers.
In 2020, Professor Alisson joined the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), where he worked in teaching and research in General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Chemical Biology. His research interests focus on the synthesis and transformation of organic molecules relevant to Medicinal Chemistry, including compounds with antimicrobial and antitumor activity, biotransformations, and the investigation of bioactive natural products obtained from endophytic microorganisms.
Upon returning to UFMS, Professor Alisson will join the activities of the Center for Research and Innovation in Bioprospecting and Synthesis for Human and Animal Health (CIBSint) and SINTMOL. He will work in collaboration with Professor Adilson Beatriz, as well as with other researchers, students, and partner institutions affiliated with these groups, strengthening projects in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, bioprospecting, biotransformation, and the development of new bioactive molecules.
Professor Alisson’s arrival also symbolizes the success of UFMS in training highly qualified professionals. After beginning his career as a student and researcher at SINTMOL, completing his graduate education at the institution, and gaining experience as a faculty member and researcher at another federal university, he is now returning to his home institution to help train a new generation of chemists and researchers.
For Professor Adilson Beatriz, Alisson’s return holds special significance: “Welcoming Alisson back to UFMS, now as a professor of Organic Synthesis, is a source of great satisfaction. I have followed his career since the beginning of his scientific training, and I am confident that his experience, expertise, and interdisciplinary profile will make a significant contribution to strengthening INQUI, CIBSint, and SINTMOL.”
Professor Alisson Meza’s return reaffirms UFMS’s ability to train highly qualified professionals and reintegrate them into its faculty, thereby strengthening scientific research, technological innovation, and academic education in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Welcome back, Professor Alisson!