Fawaz Haj

Dr. Fawaz Haj is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Internal Medicine at the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on the molecular basis of metabolic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes and its complications, using cellular imaging, mouse models, and gene knockout techniques.

• Education
• B.Sc., Biology, American University of Beirut
• M.Sc., Biomedical Sciences, Bradford University
• D.Phil., Physiology, Oxford University

Research interests include protein tyrosine phosphatases, metabolic regulation, and the role of signaling molecules in diabetes and obesity. Recent work spans IL-6 trans signaling in liver disease, nanoplastics' metabolic effects, and Shp2's role in renal function under hyperglycemia.

• Scientific Awards
• Oxford Overseas Bursaries (1997)
• American Diabetes Association Junior Faculty Award (2006)
• Hellman Fellow (2008)
• Faculty Leadership Academy (2018)
• LEAD21 National Faculty Leadership Program (2019)

Dr. Haj has advised students like Grace LeBleu, who received multiple awards in 2024. He has held administrative roles such as Director of the Meyer Hall Animal Facility and Vice-Chair of the Nutrition Department (2018–2024).

Labs and teams include the Meyer Hall Animal Facility and the Metabolism and Endocrinology Core at UC Davis. He actively collaborates internationally, such as moderating a U.S.–Kuwait precision medicine workshop in February 2025.