Prof. Dr. Hans Joachim Freund, Fritz-Haber Institute– Germany

Hajo Freund study physics and chemistry and doctorated at Cologne Univ. (1978), postdoc Univ. of Pennsylvania (1979-1981), German Habilitation Cologne Univ. (1983), Professor of Physical Chemistry Erlangen Univ. (1983), Professor in Physical Chemistry Bochum Univ. (1987), Director and Scientific Member at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (since 1996), Honorary Professor Bochum TU (1996), Berlin Free Univ. (1997), Berlin TU (1997) and Berlin Humboldt Univ. (1998).

Prof. Dr. Ulrike Diebold, TU Wien – Austria

Ulrike Diebold holds a diplom Ingenieur in Engineering Physics (eq. MS) (1986), Ph.D. in Physics, both degrees from the TU Wien, Vienna, Austria; Advisor: Prof. Peter Varga (1990), Habilitation in "Experimental Physics", TU Wien (1998). Professional Experience: Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien Professor of Surface Science (2010 -2017 ) Deputy Department Head (2010-2017 ) Department of Physics, Tulane University, New Orleans Research Professor (2010-2017) Yahoo! Founder Chair in Science and Engineering (2006 -2009) Associate Department Chair (2002 -2009) Professor of Physics (2001 -2009) Associate Professor (1999 – 2001) Assistant Professor (1993 – 1999) Adjunct Professor of Chemistry (1993 - 2009)

Prof. Dr. Martin Schmal, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

Martin Schmal has graduated in São Paulo as a Chemical Engineer by PUC-SP in 64, I obtained my masters degree in COPPE in 65 and soon after my doctorate in TUBerlin in late 1970. On my return, I started activities at COPPE and at the Chemistry School, where I followed the academic career since 1971, with a small phase in the Gessy-Lever Industry in S. Paulo. In 76, I was promoted to a full professor at COPPE. and in 85 I made a public tender for a Professor at the School of Chemistry of UFRJ. The results can be observed by the 90 master thesis and doctoral dissertations oriented, 85 scientific papers published in international specialized magazines, in addition to the 262 papers presented at national and international congresses.

Prof. Dr. Hans Peter Steinrück, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg – Germany

Hans-Peter Steinrück is investigating the physics and chemistry of surfaces since the beginning of his career, 1982-1985 at the TU Graz/Austria, 1985/1986 at Stanford University/USA, 1986-1993 at the TU München/Germany, 1993 at Rutgers University/USA, 1994-1998 at the University Würzburg/Germany, and since 1998 at the University Erlangen-Nürnberg/Germany.

Dr. Túlio Rocha, Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory – Brazil

Túlio Rocha holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the State University of Campinas (2008). He was post-doc at the Fritz Haber Institut of the Max Planck Society and Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin for Materials and Energy. He is currently Researcher at the National Laboratory of Synchrotron Light. Has experience in the physical and chemical area of materials, working mainly in the following subjects: advanced characterization of functional materials by synchrotron light techniques; synthesis, structural and spectroscopic properties of nanosystems; development of x-ray optics. He has recently carried out in-situ characterization works by x-ray spectroscopy of catalysts and materials related to energy storage.

Dr. Joyce Araújo, National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro) – Brazil

Joyce Araujo holds a PhD in Sciences, a Master's Degree in Inorganic Chemistry and a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from the State University of Campinas. She holds a postdoctoral degree at the Lawrence National Berkeley Laboratory, University of California - Berkeley, United States, under the supervision of Prof. Gabor Somorjai, developing project in Surface Analysis and Catalysis. Currently, she is a researcher in metrology and quality at INMETRO, in the Materials Metrology Division, working with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and in the development of flexible, transparent and conductive graphene and graphene oxide films for application in electronic devices and enzymatic catalysis.

Prof. Dr. André Pasa, Federal University of Santa Catarina – Brazil

André Pasa holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physics from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (1984), a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (1983), a Master's degree in Physics from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (1986) and PhD in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (1993). He has experience in the field of Materials Physics, with emphasis on Nanostructured Materials, working mainly in the following subjects: electrodeposition, thin films, nanostructures, biomimetic membranes, spintronics, sensors and biosensors, and actuator devices (transistors, etc.).

Dr. Emilia Annese, Brazilian Center for Physics Research (CBPF) – Brazil

Emília Annese has a master degree in Physics at the University of Parma, Italy- PhD in Physics at University of Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy-post-doc positions at IOM-CNR, Trieste, Italy-visiting research scientist at Chiba University, Japan- fixed term researcher at Elettra synchrotron, Trieste, Italy-fixed term researcher at HISOR synchrotron, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan-visiting researcher at LNLS synchrotron, Campinas, Brazil-post-doc researcher at CBPF, bolsista CNPQ nivel DA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Prof. Dr. Edmar Soares, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) – Brazil

Edmar's research has focused on the determination of the atomic-scale structure and bonding at solid surfaces and in nanostructures, in order to better understand the atomistic basis of surface science, nanoscience and their many technological applications (catalysis, electronic devices, corrosion, tribology, etc.). In particular, electron diffraction and synchrotron radiation techniques have been used for probing the electronic and structural properties of surfaces and interfaces. He also works on the implementation of global optmization methods, such as genetic algorithm, to speed up the structure determination of complex surfaces.

Prof. Dr. Jonder Morais, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) – Brazil

Jonder Morais holds a bachelor's degree in Physics from the Federal University of Espírito Santo (1987), a Master's degree in Physics from the State University of Campinas (1991), and a Ph.D. in Physics from the State University of Campinas 1995). He holds postdoctoral experience at UNI-Mainz, Germany (1996) and at the University of California at Berkeley, USA (1997). He is currently a Professor in Physics at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. His research is focused on the investigation of the electronic and structural properties of advanced nano-structured materials, aiming the development of more efficient and lower cost heterogeneous catalysts, as well as biosensors.

Prof. Dr. Rodrigo B. Capaz, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) - Brazil

Rodrigo B. Capaz is a Full Professor at the Physics Institute of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, working primarily on electronic structure calculations of carbon nanomaterials, semiconductors and surfaces.​ He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1996), a Guggenheim Fellowship (2003) and “Young Scientist Award” TWAS-ROLAC, Physics, 2009. He was a visiting scholar at U. C. Berkeley in 2003-2005 and 2009-2010.