The Ph.D. viva session was held in the auditorium of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute for Mr. Ali Halajian (admitted for fall 2012) who was the research-based Ph.D. student. The title of his dissertation was "Selection of the Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) based on the growth traits, studying inheritance and RNA relationship with the growth in the larval stage". The student completed his education in the field of fisheries sciences-reproduction and development of aquatic organisms at the International Sturgeon Research Institute (Rasht). The doctoral thesis supervisors were Dr. Abdolhai and Dr. Shadparvar and the doctoral thesis co-supervisors were Dr. Yarmohammadi and Dr. Yazdani Sadaty. Members of the thesis examination committee were Dr. Pourkazemi, Dr. Khara and Dr. Safari. The doctoral thesis received a high grade.