Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), located in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, stands as one of the country's prominent federal universities. Established in 1960, it has evolved into a comprehensive institution with over 40,000 students and a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs. Jobs at UFSM encompass faculty positions, research roles, administrative staff, and technical support, attracting professionals passionate about higher education in Latin America. As a public university, employment opportunities often arise through competitive public contests known as "concursos públicos," ensuring merit-based hiring aligned with Brazil's constitutional standards for federal institutions.
The university's main campus in Santa Maria spans 1,590 hectares, fostering a dynamic environment for academic careers. UFSM excels in fields like veterinary medicine, agronomy, engineering, and health sciences, making it a hub for specialized jobs. Whether you're seeking professor jobs or research assistant jobs, UFSM offers stability, competitive salaries, and contributions to national development projects.
UFSM was founded on December 28, 1960, through Federal Law No. 3,998, initially with schools of medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry. Over the decades, it expanded to include 13 colleges and 7 campuses across Rio Grande do Sul, from Cachoeira do Sul to Santa Maria. This growth reflects Brazil's investment in public higher education, positioning UFSM as a regional leader with international partnerships, such as with universities in Europe and the US for exchange programs.
The university's evolution has been marked by key milestones, including the creation of its veterinary center in 1962, now one of Latin America's largest, and the establishment of the Center for Rural Development in 1986. These developments have created diverse job opportunities in research and extension services, where academics engage directly with local industries like soybean production and livestock.
UFSM offers more than 100 undergraduate courses and 50 graduate programs, organized into centers like the Center for Natural and Exact Sciences and the Center for Health Sciences. Popular areas include engineering (civil, electrical), agriculture, law, and medicine. Graduate programs, particularly master's and PhDs in biotechnology and materials science, drive many research-focused jobs.
These departments regularly post openings for lecturers and professors, often requiring expertise in Portuguese-medium teaching and Portuguese-language publications.
Career opportunities at UFSM span tenure-track professor jobs, adjunct lecturer jobs, postdoctoral positions, and administrative roles. Permanent faculty positions (professor efetivo) are filled via public contests involving written exams, didactic lessons, and interviews. Temporary roles like substituto professors fill short-term needs. Research jobs thrive in UFSM's 200+ labs, funded by CNPq and FAPERGS. For more on university job types, explore our guide.
Administrative jobs include HR, IT, and library positions, supporting the university's operations across its multi-campus system.
To secure jobs at UFSM, candidates typically need a PhD (doutorado) in the relevant field for faculty roles, with master's for lecturers. Research focus should align with UFSM priorities like sustainable agriculture, veterinary pathology, or renewable energy engineering. Preferred experience includes 5+ peer-reviewed publications, grant management (e.g., from CNPq), and teaching in Brazilian higher education.
Key skills encompass Portuguese fluency, interdisciplinary collaboration, and grant writing. Competencies like curriculum development and extension work (serviços à comunidade) are valued, reflecting UFSM's public mission.
Concurso Público: Brazil's merit-based public hiring process for civil service positions, including university faculty, involving multiple stages like exams and interviews to ensure transparency.
Doutorado: PhD degree, the highest academic qualification required for full professorships at federal universities like UFSM.
Extensão Universitária: University extension services, where faculty engage in community outreach, a key duty in Brazilian public universities.
CNPq: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Brazil's main funding agency for research grants.
FAPERGS: Rio Grande do Sul Research Foundation, supporting regional academic projects at UFSM.
The application for UFSM jobs starts with monitoring the university's official portal (portal.ufsm.br) for edital announcements. Submit documents like diploma, CV lattes (standard Brazilian academic CV), and project proposal. The process includes:
Tips: Tailor your CV lattes to highlight Brazilian experience; practice teaching in Portuguese; network via congresses like SBPC. Prepare for multi-stage contests lasting months. Use tips for academic CVs and review past editais for specifics.
UFSM advances diversity through Lei de Cotas, reserving 50% of spots for public school students, blacks, indigenous, and disabled individuals in admissions and hiring. The Pró-Inclusão program supports LGBTQ+ faculty, while gender equity efforts include women's leadership workshops. International mobility via PEC-G attracts diverse researchers, fostering an inclusive environment in Rio Grande do Sul's gaúcho culture.
UFSM promotes balance with 35-hour workweeks for faculty, generous vacation (45 days/year), and parental leave. The Santa Maria campus features sports complexes, nurseries, health centers, and cultural events like Semana Acadêmica. Rio Grande do Sul's temperate climate and proximity to beaches offer leisure, while affordable housing supports families. Remote options for research exist, aiding flexibility.
In summary, jobs at UFSM provide rewarding careers in Brazil's vibrant higher education landscape. Check higher ed jobs, higher ed career advice, university jobs, and post a job on AcademicJobs.com for the latest opportunities. For Brazil-specific insights, visit our university job types page.
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