Douglas Rhoads, University Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and the director of Cell and Molecular Biology Program, and Adnan Alrubaye, research assistant professor of poultry science and biological sciences and the associate director of the Cell and Molecular Biology Program, recently traveled to Oman, Jordan and Kuwait recruiting graduate students to the U of A's Graduate School and International Education. While there, they visited several national and regional universities and sponsoring ministries.

Rhoads and Alrubaye visited the Sultan Qaboos University, the largest and only public university in the Sultanate of Oman, the University of Nizwa, the first non-profit university in the Sultanate, and the EducationUSA office in the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Oman. They met with prospective students and administrators in both universities and visited research and academic facilities.

In addition, they met with the general director of scholarships, the general director of external scholarships, the director of the graduate studies in the Ministry of Higher Education and with the director and researchers of the Omani Research Council, a governmental organization responsible for research planning and funding in the Sultanate of Oman.

For the second time in three years, Rhoads and Alrubaye visited Kuwait University, the main public university in Kuwait, and met with the dean of the College of Science and the chairs of the departments of biological sciences, and geosciences to visit with prospective graduate students for the U of A. They also had the opportunity to deliver a presentation about the available graduate programs at the U of A and how to apply to the university.

Rhoads and Alrubaye visited Jordan University of Science and Technology and Yarmouk University in Jordan. The U of A has a long history of research collaboration with Yarmouk University, especially with the Department of Anthropology. They met with the president of Yarmouk University and the vice president of Jordan University of Science and Technology. They also visited research facilities in both institutions and met with U of A alumni, faculty, staff, and prospective graduate students.

The Cell and Molecular Biology Program is one of the largest doctoral programs on campus spanning 16 departments in four colleges, and is one of six interdisciplinary graduate programs in the Graduate School and International Education.

Members of the Oman Research Council meet with Douglas Rhoads and Adnan Alrubaye, both at right.