Fadi Fathallah

Fadi Fathallah, Ph.D., is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of California, Davis. He leads the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety and CalAgrAbility. His research focuses on ergonomics, biomechanics, and musculoskeletal disorder prevention in agricultural work, particularly addressing stooped postures, ladder design, and youth safety in agricultural machinery operation.

Dr. Fathallah’s educational background includes advanced degrees in Industrial Engineering with a specialization in biomechanics. His work integrates engineering principles with public health objectives to improve worker safety in labor-intensive sectors. Key areas of expertise include spinal biomechanics during stooped labor, ergonomic tool development, and sensor-based monitoring in robotic agricultural systems.

His research has produced interventions such as ergonomic ladder designs, weight transfer devices for stooped work, and autonomous agricultural vehicles. Recent studies emphasize reducing injury risks for youth operators of all-terrain vehicles and optimizing manual materials handling techniques.

Dr. Fathallah has been awarded the ASABE SMV Technologies Ergonomics, Safety and Health Award (2021) for his contributions to agricultural safety. His work has been supported by grants such as NIOSH funding for the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (2022).

As a mentor, he oversees interdisciplinary projects at the Occupational Biomechanics Lab and collaborates with industry partners to translate research into practical solutions. His lab also develops technologies like GPS-based weed control systems and co-robotic systems to enhance agricultural efficiency while prioritizing worker health.