About

Academic profile and scientific trajectory.

Rafael Luiz Cancian is a professor at UFSC with an academic trajectory spanning computer science, automation and systems engineering, hardware/software integration, embedded and cyber-physical systems, modeling and simulation, artificial intelligence, and biological computation.

Academic profile

Prof. Rafael Luiz Cancian, Dr. Ing.

Professor, Department of Informatics and Statistics, Federal University of Santa Catarina

Research position

Computation as an architectural phenomenon

The long-term research vision is to study computation as an architecture that can cross substrates: silicon, software systems, cyber-physical platforms, and biological systems. The site communicates that agenda at a conceptual and academic level, without laboratory protocols or operational genetic engineering instructions.

  • Computer architecture and organization
  • Operating systems and systems software
  • Modeling and simulation of systems
  • Embedded and cyber-physical systems
  • Artificial intelligence for scientific workflows
  • Biological computation and biochemical hardware
  • Systems biology and synthetic biology
  • Whole-cell simulation and biological systems modeling

Formation

Academic degrees

Formal degrees and postgraduate specializations. Years for specializations can be updated in the data file.

  • Doctor of Engineering — Automation and Systems EngineeringFederal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)
    2011Multi-objective evolutionary design-space exploration for embedded cyber-physical systems.
  • Master of Science — Computer ScienceFederal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)
    2000Performance evaluation of real-time scheduling algorithms in multicomputer environments.
  • Bachelor of Science — Computer ScienceFederal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)
    1997
  • Postgraduate Specialization — Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
    —
  • Postgraduate Specialization — Political Science
    —
  • Postgraduate Specialization — Financial and Capital Markets
    —

Academic signals

Compact profile, not a curriculum dump.

The public site emphasizes durable academic identity and research direction rather than reproducing the complete Lattes record.

Systems foundation

Computer science, automation, and systems engineering

Academic formation and teaching activity spanning computer science, automation and systems engineering, computer organization, operating systems, and software/hardware integration.

Research axis

Modeling and simulation as a scientific method

Research and technological development centered on simulation models, design-space exploration, embedded and cyber-physical systems, and reproducible scientific software artifacts.

Current agenda

Biological computation and whole-system modeling

Long-term research direction connecting biological systems modeling, biological computer organization, BioCAD-like abstractions, and responsible computational communication.

Biography

Systems, software, hardware, simulation, and biological computation.

A compact website biography, not a full curriculum reproduction.

Prof. Cancian holds a doctorate in Automation and Systems Engineering, a master's degree and bachelor's degree in Computer Science, and complementary graduate-level training in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Political Science, and Financial and Capital Markets. His professional trajectory combines university teaching, systems research, scientific software development, and applied technology projects.

His research agenda connects classical systems topics—computer organization, operating systems, embedded systems, hardware/software integration, parallel and distributed processing, and design-space exploration—with biological computation, systems biology, synthetic biology, and whole-cell simulation as computational substrates and modeling targets.

At UFSC, his work has included teaching and research in Digital Systems, Operating Systems, Modeling and Simulation of Systems, Biological Computation and Computational Biology, cyber-physical systems, and software/hardware integration. This website presents selected aspects of that trajectory without attempting to reproduce the full Lattes curriculum.

Academic service

Selected administrative and governance activities

Course coordination, boards, councils, laboratory coordination, and research or extension leadership.

2017–present

Internship coordinator, Computer Science at UFSC

Coordinates internship activities for the Computer Science program, connecting students, course requirements, and professional practice.

2017–2019

Coordinator, Computer Science program at UFSC

Served as coordinator of the Computer Science undergraduate program and represented the program in university-level undergraduate governance.

2018–2019

UFSC University Council and Undergraduate Chamber

Participated in the UFSC University Council and the Undergraduate Chamber, contributing to institutional academic governance.

2014–2017

Course boards and laboratory coordination

Served on Computer Science, Information Systems, and Electronic Engineering boards and coordinated the LISHA software/hardware integration laboratory.

2005–2011

Research and extension leadership before UFSC tenure

Held roles at IFSC and UNIVALI involving research and extension coordination, research-group leadership, course boards, and scientific committees.

Skills

Selected technical and academic competencies

A concise skill profile aligned with teaching, research, supervision, and academic service.

  • Computer architecture and organization
  • Operating systems and embedded systems
  • Hardware/software integration
  • Modeling and simulation
  • Discrete-event simulation and experiment design
  • Cyber-physical systems and design automation
  • Artificial intelligence and data science
  • Biological computation and systems biology
  • Scientific software development
  • Mobile and web application development
  • Software testing and project management
  • Data analysis and information management
  • Academic program coordination and curriculum design

Trajectory

Selected academic milestones

  1. Bachelor of Computer Science — UFSC

    Foundation in computing, systems, software, and computer architecture at the Federal University of Santa Catarina.

  2. Partner-director, consulting company in urban transport IT

    Technical and business leadership of a small company developing planning and operational software for urban public transportation systems, including the OFERBUS system.

  3. Master of Science in Computer Science — UFSC

    Research on performance evaluation of real-time scheduling algorithms in a multicomputer environment.

  4. Faculty member — UNIVALI

    Teaching in undergraduate Computer Science and Information Systems programs, with courses in computer organization, operating systems, and embedded systems.

  5. Faculty member — IFSC

    Teaching and research in Systems Analysis and Development, covering embedded systems, systems programming, and applied computing, alongside extension and research coordination roles.

  6. Doctorate in Automation and Systems Engineering — UFSC

    Research on multi-objective evolutionary design-space exploration for embedded cyber-physical systems.

  7. Associate Professor — UFSC, Department of Computing

    Teaching, research, supervision, and institutional activity across digital systems, modeling and simulation, biological computation, and computer organization. Internship coordinator since 2017.