Dr. Fabian M. Dayrit obtained his BS Chemistry degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines in 1975, and MA and PhD Chemistry degrees from Princeton University in 1978 and 1981, respectively. He did his PhD work in the field of Organometallic Chemistry. He then spent two years at Oxford University from 1980 to 1982 as a post-doctoral research associate working on homogeneous chiral hydrogenation for the synthesis of amino acids.

Dr. Dayrit returned to the Philippines in 1982 as a NSTA Long-Term Balik-Scientist and joined the faculty of the Ateneo Department of Chemistry. He specialized on medicinal plants, studying compounds that are responsible for their biological activity. Dr. Dayrit did the phytochemical studies on Vitex negundo (lagundi) which contributed to the BFAD recognition of lagundi as the first medicinal plant in the Philippines. In 2000, Dr. Dayrit started doing research on virgin coconut oil (VCO). He contributed to the Philippine National Standard for VCO and is actively engaged in studying its chemistry and health properties. He was recognized by the International Coconut Community (ICC) as the Best Scientist in 2023 and is currently the chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Health of the ICC.

In 2009, Dr. Dayrit was elected Academician to the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines. He is Emeritus Professor at the Department of Chemistry of the Ateneo.