How did you decide to become a food scientist?
I actually started college to become a doctor. I was walking around campus one day, and I saw that one of the buildings said “food science.” I couldn’t believe that was a real thing! I knew it was what I wanted to do.
How long does it take to create a flavor?
It takes about 18 to 24 months. We have to be thinking way into the future: What are people going to be eating a year from now?
What’s the best part of your job?
I get to be myself! Everyone on our team likes food just as much as I do, so we bond over that. I love that I get to cook and play with food at work.
Did you ever invent a flavor that didn’t end up getting sold?
I made a flavor based on a dessert I loved as a kid: baked pears. It was a pear ice cream with caramel and nuts. The small batch I made was delicious. But other people didn’t like it as much as I did, so we never made it in the factory. Oh well!
What advice would you give a kid who wants to be a food scientist?
Don’t get discouraged. No class is hard enough to stop you. For me, chemistry was really difficult, but I’m so happy that I didn’t quit. I learned that every challenge gets you ready for the next one.
Do you ever get sick of ice cream?
No!