The relationship between researcher formation and mental suffering has been investigated in this work. Reports from a group of 21 graduate students enrolled in a biomedical excellence program at a Brazilian Federal University were analyzed. Qualitative methodology was used, comprising biographical method and participant observation. The material found revealed that mental suffering was part of the academic pathway followed by this group and appeared classified under different names and different degrees. In most reports, the suffering was related to institutional handicaps (e.g. sponsorship), difficulties in carrying out the research project, divulging the papers and "becoming an independent researcher.
graduate studies; researchers; mental suffering