Photo Sean H. Adams
Ph.D., Asst Adj Professor
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist (Research Physiologist)
212 WHNRC,(530)754-4417
Dr. Adams investigates the etiology of obesity and related metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Research efforts explore which molecular markers and endocrine factors correlate with indices of metabolic health in human nutritional studies and in animal models of obesity, with a primary focus on fat cell physiology.

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Lindsay H. Allen
Ph.D., R.D., Professor Emerita
Nutritionist in AES
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Director
3253B Meyer, (530)752-5920
Dr. Allen is the Director of the USDA ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center (WHNRC). Dr. Allen's research is focused on the prevalence, causes, consequences and prevention of micronutrient deficiencies including iron, vitamin B-12, zinc, vitamin A and riboflavin.
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Elizabeth A. Applegate
Ph.D., Senior Lecturer
Director of Sports Nutrition, Intercollegiate Athletics
3215 Meyer, (530)752-6682
Dr. Applegate instructs two General Education courses, Nutrition 10 and Nutrition 11. Her research interests include the role of dietary antioxidants on exercise-induced oxidative damage.
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Ellen Bonnel
Ph.D., Academic Administrator
USDA-ARS-WHNRC
109 WHNRC, (530)752-4184
ellen.bonnel@ars.usda.gov
Dr. Bonnel is the Human Studies Manager at the USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center (WHNRC). The mission of the WHNRC is to create and test food based interventions to improve the health of all Americans.
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Kenneth H. Brown
M.D., Professor
Nutritionist in AES
3253C Meyer, (530)752-1992
Dr. Brown's research program includes investigation of the causes, complications, treatment, and prevention of childhood malnutrition in lower-income countries, focusing primarily on issues of infant and young child feeding (breast feeding and complementary feeding), relationships between infection and nutrition, and control of specific micronutrient deficiencies, including zinc, iron and vitamin A
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Betty Burri 
Ph.D., Assoc Adj Prof
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
208 WHNRC, (530) 752-4748
Dr. Burri's primary area of research is identifying and defining the metabolism and requirements of antioxidant nutrients (such as beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E), and of lesser known antioxidant phytonutrients (such as lycopene and lutein).
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Britt Burton-Freeman
Ph.D., Asst Researcher
3115 Meyer, (530) 752-0133
Dr. Burton-Freeman’s research follows two main themes: 1) Appetite and obesity management and, 2) Vascular disease. Research emphasizes the effects of bioactive food components on mechanistic and behavioral processes of food intake and body weight regulation.
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Gary N. Cherr
Ph.D., Professor
Biologist in AES
4121 Meyer, (530)754-7254
Dr. Cherr's current laboratory focus is on understanding the cellular and physiological mechanisms of reproduction and development over a wide phylogenetic range.
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Andrew J. Clifford
Ph.D., Distinguished Professor
Nutritionist in AES
3147 Meyer,(530)752-3376
Dr. Clifford’s research in vitamin A and b-carotene seeks to determine the nutritional status of humans with respect to these nutrients.
Paul Davis
Paul A. Davis
Ph.D., Research Nutritionist
TB163, (530) 752-5402
Dr. Davis' research focuses on the interaction of dietary constituents (macronutrients and nonnutritional components) with processes/risk factors for chronic human diseases (i.e. coronary vascular disease and cancer).
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Kathryn G. Dewey
Ph.D., Professor
Nutritionist in AES
3253A Meyer,(530)752-0851
Dr. Dewey’s research area is community and international nutrition, with an emphasis on maternal and child nutrition.
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Cesar Fraga
Ph.D., Research Chemist
3217A Meyer, (530)754-6667
Dr. Fraga's research program centers on the putative beneficial effects of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds against degenerative disorders, including cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.
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M.R.C. Greenwood
Ph.D., Professor
Chancellor Emerita, UC Santa Cruz
3243 Meyer, (530)754-4365
Dr. Greenwood's research interests are in national science policy, obesity, diabetes, and women's health. Her past research work has been on the role of genetics in the development of obesity and diabetes. She is currently interested in national and international policy in these areas and the role of government in the regulation of food and diet.
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Louis E. Grivetti
Ph.D., Professor Emeritus
Nutritionist in AES
3139 Meyer, (530) 752-2078
Dr. Grivetti blends classical approaches of social and biological sciences with historical perspectives. The unifying theme of his research is how, why, and under what conditions human diets change, the mechanisms of change, and the nutritional implications of human behavior.
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Heidrun B. Gross
Ph.D., Asst Project Scientist
3150C Meyer, (530)752-8813
Dr. Gross's research investigates the putative beneficial effects of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds against degenerative disorders, in particular cardiovascular diseases.
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Robert M. Hackman
Ph.D., Research Nutritionist
3150F Meyer, (530)754-9835
Dr. Hackman’s research addresses the role of nutritional and botanical supplements for health enhancement. Dr. Hackman is currently studying the role of flavanol-rich botanical extracts on vascular function and weight management, and the role of a soy-mushroom extract in prostate cancer.
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Fawaz G. Haj
Ph.D., Assistant Professor
3115 Meyer,(530)752-3214
fghaj@ucdavis.edu
Dr. Haj's research program investigates the role of protein-tyrosine phosphatases in metabolism and type 2 diabetes through the use of advanced cellular imaging and genetic mouse models.
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Charles H. Halsted
M.D., Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine and Nutrition.
6323 Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility
530-752-6778

Dr. Halsted’s research studies focus on the interactions of folate deficiency and abnormal methionine metabolism in the development of alcoholic liver disease. Studies include animal models and clinical patients.
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Lynn A. Hanna
Ph.D., Asst Project Scientist
3150C Meyer, (530)752-8812
The primary focus of Dr. Hanna's work is the role of trace elements in regulating early mammalian embryo development.
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Marjorie J. Haskell
Ph.D., Asst Researcher
3217A Meyer, (530)754-7415
Dr. Haskell's research interests include 1) bioavailability of vitamin A from plant-based diets, 2) food based interventions for improving maternal and infant vitamin A status, and 3) use of stable isotope techniques for assessing vitamin A status. Studies are currently underway in Bangladesh and Nepal.
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Peter J. Havel
Ph.D., Assoc Researcher
3415 Meyer,(530)752-6553
Dr. Havel's research is focused on the pathophysiology of diabetes and obesity.
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Wayne Chris Hawkes
Ph.D., Asst Adj Professor
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
209 WHNRC, (530)752-4765
Dr. Hawkes has conducted research on the biochemistry and nutrition of selenium that has focused on the selenoproteins that are responsible for selenium's health benefits.
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M. Jane Heinig
Ph.D., Academic Administrator
1283C Acad Srge, (530)752-8681
Dr. Heinig’s research area is maternal and child nutrition, particularly during lactation.
Karrie Heneman
Karrie Heneman
Ph.D., Asst Project Scientist
3148 Meyer, (530)752-3387

kmheneman@ucdavis.edu
The major focus of Dr. Heneman's research is developing nutrition education materials for California elementary schools and evaluating the effect of school wellness programs on health related outcomes.  Dr. Heneman is particularly interested in developing programs that will help teach children the skills they need to lead a healthy, well-balanced life. 
Charles E. Hess - Photo by Karin Higgins/UC Davis
Charles E. Hess
Ph.D., Department Chair
3135B Meyer, (530)754-0159
cehess@ucdavis.edu
Dr. Hess is Chair of the UC Davis Nutrition Department and Dean Emeritus of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He served as Dean from 1975 to 1989. In 1989 he was appointed by the President to be the Assistant Secretary of Science and Education in the USDA. He also had two presidential appointments to the National Science Board, the governing board of the National Science Foundation. Upon his return to campus in 1991, he served as the Director of International Programs and has served as a special assistant to the Provost and Chancellor.
Sonja Y. Hess
Sonja Y. Hess
Ph.D., Asst Project Scientist
3253 Meyer, (530))752-1992
syhess@ucdavis.edu
Dr. Hess's research interests include: 1) assessment of zinc status and evaluation of zinc intervention programs, and 2) interactions between zinc and other micronutrients.
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Liping Huang
Ph.D., Asst Adj Professor
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
4445 Tupper , (530)754-5756
Dr. Huang is a Research Geneticist with the Western Human Nutrition Research Center. Her research is focused on identifying the genetic influences on zinc homeostasis at molecular and cellular levels in human.
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Nancy R. Hudson
M.S., R.D., Assistant Program Director, Dietetics
3241 Meyer, (530)754-9749
Ms. Hudson's work focuses on curriculum design, outcomes assessment, and management practice in dietetics.
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Daniel Hwang
Ph.D. Adj Professor
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
211 WHNRC, (530)754-4838
The overall goal of Dr. Hwang's research is to elucidate molecular mechanisms by which different types dietary fatty acids modify risks of chronic diseases.
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Amy B. Joy
Ph.D., Cooperative Extension Specialist
3209 Meyer, (530)752-7959
Dr. Joy’s research area is community nutrition, with an emphasis on improving the nutritional status of high risk audiences.
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Lucia L. Kaiser
Ph.D., Cooperative Extension Specialist
3113 Meyer, (530)754-9063
Dr. Lucia Kaiser’s research interests include: examining the impact of acculturation and food security on the child-parent feeding relationship among Latinos; developing tools to evaluate nutrition education; evaluating life skills education on transition from welfare to work.
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Carl L. Keen
Ph.D., Professor
Nutritionist in AES
3135A Meyer, (530)752-6331
Dr. Keen's research group has four main areas of focus: 1)the influence of diet on embryonic and fetal development; 2) gene-nutrient interactions; 3) how diet influences oxidant defense systems and cellular oxidative damage; and 4) the effects of diet on the development and progression of vascular disease.
Lab: http://keenlab.ucdavis.edu
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Nancy Keim
Ph.D., Assoc Adj Professor
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
205 WHNRC, (530) 752-4163
Dr. Keim’s research program involves validation and application of body composition methodologies, evaluation of the effects of dieting and physical activity on energy expenditure in overweight and obese individuals, and, more recently, development and application of tools to assess appetite, food preferences, and dietary patterns in humans.
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Darshan Kelley
Ph.D., Adj Professor
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
207 WHNRC, (530)752-5138
Dr. Kelley is interested in studying the effects of diets on inflammation and immune responses. Focus of his studies has been the modulation of risk factors for cardio-vascular disease and insulin resistance by dietary fatty acids and phytonutrients. He is also interested in the effects of fatty acids on cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis.
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Janet King
Ph.D., Research Professor
(510) 450-7939
Using stable isotopes and kinetic modeling techniques, Dr. King's research group studies how calcium and zinc utilization is affected by different physiological states, such as pregnancy, lactation, aging, or insufficient or excessive intakes.
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Louise Lanoue
Ph.D., Asst Researcher 
3150E Meyer, (530)752-3002
Dr. Lanoue's research is directed towards achieving a better understanding of the role of specific nutrient deficits or excesses on embryonic and fetal development.
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Kevin D. Laugero
Ph.D., Asst Adj Professor
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
213 WHNRC, (530) 752-4173
Dr. Laugero's research is aimed at understanding the role and underpinnings of chronic psychosocial stress in dysfunctional eating behaviors, particularly as they relate to obesity and the metabolic syndrome.
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Bo L. Lonnerdal
Ph.D., Professor
Nutritionist in AES
3217C Meyer, (530)752-8347
Dr. Lönnerdal's research program is focused on two main areas: infant/pediatric nutrition and trace element metabolism.
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Roger B. McDonald
Ph.D., Professor
Nutritionist in AES
3145 Meyer , (530) 219-5941
The primary focus of Dr. McDonald's research program is on mechanisms of cellular aging and the interaction between nutrition and aging.
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John W. Newman
Ph.D., Assoc Adj Professor
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
210 WHNRC, (530)752-1009
Dr. Newman’s research focuses on the development and application of quantitative profiling technologies for metabolic regulatory domains.
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Patricia Oteiza
Ph.D., Assoc Prof
Assoc Nutritionist in AES
3109 Meyer, (530)754-6074
Dr. Oteiza has two primary areas of research. The first is centered on the characterization of the effects of trace mineral deficiencies, and trace mineral toxicities, on early developmental processes. Dr. Oteiza’s second area of research is focused on the putative health benefits of flavonoids.
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Robert B. Rucker
Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Nutritionist in AES
3135A Meyer, (530)752-2645
Dr. Rucker's research interest focuses on the role of nutrients in early growth and development (emphasizing extracellular matrix relationships) and the physiological roles of quinone cofactors derived from tyrosine, such as pyrroloquinoline quinone.
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Barbara O. Schneeman
Ph.D., Professor Emerita
Nutritionist in AES
3115 Meyer, (530)752-0133
Barbara O. Schneeman, Ph.D. is Director, Office of Nutrition, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements (ONLDS), in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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Hagen Schroeter
Ph.D., Research Faculty
3150E Meyer, (530)752-8827
Dr. Schroeter’s main research interests focus on the elucidation of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the putative beneficial effects of flavanols against degenerative human diseases such as cardiovascular disorders and neurodegeneration.
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Gertrud Schuster
Ph.D., Asst Project Scientist
275 WHNRC (530)752-8813
Dr Schuster’s research interest is directed towards the effects of nutrients on lipid metabolism and immune response. Her main focus is to investigate the effects of fat-solulable vitamins, fatty acids, or cholesterol metabolites on gene expression, which is mediated by nuclear receptors (like RXR, RAR, LXR or PPAR).
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Francene M. Steinberg
Ph.D., Assoc Professor
Assoc Nutritionist in AES
3143 Meyer, (530)752-0160
Dr. Steinberg's research interests focus on the physiologic roles of food phytochemicals, particularly soy protein and associated isoflavones, with regard to cardiovascular disease and overall health promotion. She is also interested in clinical nutrition interventions to reduce chronic disease risk, and the metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins.
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Charles Stephensen
Ph.D., Adjunct Professor
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
204 WHNRC, (530)754-9266
Dr. Stephensen’s research interests focus on the relation between nutritional status and infectious diseases, particularly the host immune response to infections and the impact of infections on nutritional status.
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Judith S. Stern
Sc.D., Distinguished Professor
Nutritionist in AES
3150B Meyer, (530)752-6575
Dr Stern's research interests focus on the interrelationships between asthma and magnesium.   Using experimental animal models of obesity, she is also studying the relationship of tea to renal disease and inflammation. She is involved with public health policy with respect to obesity.
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Barbara Sutherland
Ph.D.,Director EFNEP
3202B Meyer, (530)752-7899
Dr. Sutherland is the Director of the Statewide Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). The goal of EFNEP is to educate people to improve diets, understand nutrition, be knowledgeable about food safety, and shop wisely.
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Marilyn Townsend
Ph.D., Cooperative Extension Specialist
3150D Meyer, (530)754-9222
Marilyn Townsend provides leadership and training in the area of nutrition education. Her research includes evaluation studies of intervention programs and integrates theories and methodologies from cognitive psychology with dietary behavior change strategies.
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Janet Uriu-Adams
Ph.D., Assoc Researcher
3205 Meyer, (530)752-4658
Dr. Uriu-Adams' research focuses on investigating the mechanisms underlying copper and zinc deficiency-induced abnormal embryonic development in mammals, with an emphasis on nitric oxide metabolism and oxidative and nitrosative stress.
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Marta Van Loan
Ph.D., Assoc Adj Professor
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
202 WHNRC, (530) 752-4160
Dr. Van Loan's research has a dual focus. 1) To determine how soy isoflavones may reduce bone loss in early postmenopausal women not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and thereby be a natural alternative to HRT. 2)To determine the effect of different diets and eating patterns on body composition, weight and fat loss, bone metabolism.
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Ling Zhao
Ph.D., Asst Project Scientist
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
254 WHNRC, (530) 752-7376
forzhao@ucdavis.edu
Dr. Zhao’s research focus on the impact of dietary factors (dietary fatty acids and dietary polyphenols) on immune responses and disease.
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Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr
Ph.D., Cooperative Extension Specialist
3149 Meyer, (530)752-3817
A major focus of Dr. Zidenberg-Cherr's research and outreach program is the study of the nutritional status of populations considered at risk of nutritional deficiencies and exposure to environmental and physiological stresses.
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Susan Zunino
Ph.D., Assoc Adj Professor
USDA-ARS-WHNRC Scientist
203 WHNRC, (530) 752-5156
Dr. Zunino investigates the mechanisms of action of phenolic antioxidants found in foods. The focus of her research is to understand how these antioxidants affect lymphocytes and the immune response in general, and to define the mechanisms involved at a cellular and molecular level.


Affiliated Faculty

Linda Bacon, Ph.D., lbacon@ucdavis.edu
George A. Bray, M.D., brayga@pbrc.edu
Steve Dueker, Ph.D., srdueker@ucdavis.edu
Janis Fisler, Ph.D., jfisler@earthlink.net
Marjorie Freedman, Ph.D., mrfphd@earthlink.net
Christian Heiss, M.D., Ph.D., heissc@medicine.ucsf.edu
Heidi Johnson, Ph.D., hjohnson@whnrc.usda.gov
Paul G. Jones, Ph.D., paul.jones@eu.effem.com
Caroline Kurtz, Ph.D., carolinekurtz76@hotmail.com
Joo Young Lee, Ph.D. , joolee@ucdavis.edu
Yumei Lin, Ph.D., ymlin@ucdavis.edu
Bret Luick, Ph.D., brluick@ucdavis.edu
David McCarron, Ph.D., dmccarron@academicnetwork.com
Harold H. Schmitz, Ph.D., haroldschmitz@effem.com
Buxiang Sun, Ph.D., bxsun@aol.com
Luz Elvia Vera, M.S., vebe69@hotmail.com



Department of Nutrition | 3135 Meyer Hall | University of California | One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616-5270
Phone: (530) 752-4630 | Fax: (530) 752-8966
Please send comments to: nutrition@ucdavis.edu