Belkis Valdman

Career She held the positions of director of the Escola de Química (School of Chemistry) at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, later becoming pro-rector of graduation there. She was a member of the Brazilian Institute of Oil, Gas and Biofuels.

A professor at UFRJ since 1968, Valdman became a full professor in 1992, having taken on a number of significant positions within the university during her academic career. She was coordinator of post-graduate studies at the School of Chemistry (1988–1990), head of the Department of Chemical Engineering (1983–1989), director of the School of Chemistry (2002 to 2006), a member of the University Council (2003 to 2011) and pro-rector of undergraduate studies (2007–2011) during Aloisio Teixeira's second term as rector. Her management as pro-rector was characterised by a large expansion in the opportunities for a wider group of students to study at the university. Valdman was a supporter of the introduction of the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (National High School Exam) as a form of selection for undergraduate courses, by allowing any candidate from all over the country and from any social class to become a student at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Personal life Belkis Valdman died on 1 August 2011 at São Lucas Hospital in Rio de Janeiro, and was buried at the Jewish Cemitério Israelita do Caju the following day.

Selected publications Valdman B. "Dinamica e Controle de Processos" (1998) 1ªEd., (1999) 2ª Ed., Editora TÓRCULO Art. Gráficas S. A., Santiago de Compostela, España. Bojorge N., Valdman B., Acevedo F., Gentina J.C. "A semi-structured model for the growth and B-galactosidase production by fed-batch fermentation of Kluyveromyces marxianus" (1999), Bioprocess Engineering, 21, (4), 313–318. Salgado A M, Folly ROM, Valdman B., Valero F. "Desenvolvimento de um Biosensor Enzimático para Monitoração de Sacarose" (1999), Memórias del II Curso Int. Biotecnologia Industrial, Univ. Autonoma Metropo;itana – UAM, México, v. I, 1–4. Salgado A.M., Folly R.OM., Valdman B. "Biomass monitoring by use of a continuous on-line optical sensor" (2001) Sensors & Actuators B: Chemical, V.75/1-2, 24–28. Valdman, B. "Dinâmica e Controle de Processos" 2a. ed. 1999, 3a.Ed. 2000, Santiago de Compostela: Editora Tórculo Art. Gráficas Ltda., v.1. p. 225. Salgado A M., Folly R.O M., Valdman B., Cos D., Valero F. "Colorimetric method for the determination of ethanol by Flow Injection Analysis" (2000), Biotechnology Techniques, 22, (4), 327–330. Salgado A M., Folly R. O M., Valdman B., Valero F. "Desenvolvimento de um Biosensor Enzimático para Monitoração de Sacarose" (2000) Anais II Simp. Nac. Instrumentação Agropecuária, Ed. Embrapa, São Carlos, BR, v.I, 81–85.