The objective was to analyze the possibilities and limitations of quantitative study on an institution and its professionals, taking into account the Lattes curriculum vitae platform. Through exploring this material, we sought to delineate the profile of full professors within the Unicamp School of Medical Sciences and to characterize their scientific production, main activities and academic profile. Our methodology was quantitative. We outlined and analyzed the main characteristics of these professors presented in their curricula vitae that are held in the database of the Lattes platform, by means of descriptive statistics. Next, by means of qualitative analysis based on the theories of Pierre Bourdieu, we pointed out the difficulties in achieving good descriptions of researchers' social and scientific paths from the Lattes platform. Thus, the Lattes system consists of a repository of finished scientific actions, comprising a linear and non-historical succession within official science.
Sociology of science; Habitus; Bourdieu; Scientific production; Health human resource training; Research personnel