Faculty leaders from the Graduate School and International Education's Cell and Molecular Biology Program recently visited several cities in Indonesia to expand international research collaborations and recruit students to the U of A.

Douglas Rhoads, director of the CEMB program, and Adnan Alrubaye, associate director, visited the country from May 11-27, where they engaged with key academic, governmental and research institutions. They met with leaders including Senator Tamsil Linrung of the Regional Representative Council; Stella Christie, deputy secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology; and leadership at the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education.

"Meeting with Sen. Tamsil Linrung and professor Stella Christie underscored Indonesia's commitment to building international academic bridges," Alrubaye said. "These high-level discussions revealed meaningful opportunities to co-develop education policy and research frameworks that benefit both nations."

Rhoads and Alrubaye also met with officials at the Indonesian Quarantine Authority and the National Research and Innovation Agency, where they discussed advancing shared priorities in agricultural biotechnology, food security and innovation. Additionally, they visited Brawijaya University in Malang and Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta, where they conducted research on broiler chicken lameness, one of the top economic and animal welfare issues facing the poultry industry worldwide.

"Our visit to these leading institutions laid a strong foundation for collaborative research and joint academic programs," Alrubaye said. "Indonesia's investment in higher education and innovation aligns closely with our global mission. This visit deepened our appreciation for Indonesia's vibrant academic institutions and dynamic leadership in science and technology. We're committed to building long-term relationships that drive innovation, cultural exchange and open new pathways for student mobility."

Rhoads and Alrubaye utilized current Indonesian students and alumni to facilitate introductions with top Indonesian officials.

"The impetus is that Indonesia is a developing country with a large population that is dependent on rice, poultry and small fruits, as the major food commodities across all the islands of Indonesia," Rhoads said. "Arkansas has expertise in all three of these, so partnering with University of Arkansas for expanding research, food security and commodity improvements in these areas is a perfect match and a win for Arkansas and Indonesia."

"Cell and Molecular Biology has faculty in all these areas, but we also have additional faculty specializing in these areas, so we hope this expands to many different departments," Rhoads added.