Welcome to the Department of Nutrition at the University of California, Davis, one of the premier programs in nutrition across the world. Our department is internationally recognized for its leadership in training, outreach, and research with the ultimate goal of improving the health of people in California and across the globe, including underserved communities. As you visit our website, you will notice that our faculty are leaders in addressing public health concerns through nutrition research that spans from basic cellular mechanisms to social science, clinical interventions, global and public policy, ultimately impacting nutrition practice.
Nutrition plays a vital role in improving human health, preventing various diseases and ensuring well-being throughout life. The expansive field of nutritional sciences is at forefront of both local and global public health. Issues such as health inequities, food insecurity, global malnutrition, and poor dietary habits, along with illnesses, like obesity, cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, are all public health concerns linked to nutrition. Furthermore, many of these issues disproportionately affect specific communities. Assessing health risks for different populations and developing prevention and treatment strategies to mitigate these risks requires innovative and interdisciplinary nutrition research and practice. Thus, this is an exciting time to be part of the nutrition science community.
Besides conducting impactful research, our department has a strong commitment to teaching/outreach focusing on two key objectives:
1) Training the Next Generation: We are committed to nurturing the next generation of nutrition scientists. With our broad interdisciplinary expertise, our undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral scholars, gain unique experiences and insights into the connections among the subdisciplines of nutrition, preparing them to become leaders in their fields.
2) Disseminating Nutrition Knowledge: Regarding outreach, the Department is committed to extending nutrition-based information to the public through local, state, national and international channels. In collaboration with the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Davis is dedicated to outreach efforts aimed at improving the health of all Americans by providing accurate nutrition information.
If you are considering a career focused on nutrition, we invite you to explore our research and outreach programs, teaching offerings and affiliated programs. We look forward to welcoming you to UC Davis.
Dr. Gerardo G. Mackenzie, Chair
530-752-2140
ggmackenzie@ucdavis.edu