Specialty: Food Science
Major Contributions:
Holds a doctorate in food science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tastemaster and food scientist for Coldstone Creamery and Pinkberry
Part of winning Amazing Race Team
Part of a winning team on the Amazing Race, the Sweet Scientists, Dr. Maya Warren was honored to represent women in science and to inspire young people to get into the field as well. She stated in an interview on the show Science Friday, anything you eat, wear, or sit on has science behind it. And if you want to be a scientist that studies candy, cheese or hotdogs the opportunity is out there.
A summer internship at a food company helped turn her path toward food science and after earning a degree in chemistry from Carleton College she began her graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin – Madison to study ice cream. Yes, ice cream which at first seems like fluff subject, but the science involved in any food preparation can be very complex.
The work she completed at Madison included looking at how changes in cellular components like ice crystals and air cells make different frozen dessert products act and taste differently from one another. An understanding of ice cream microstructures helps us to know which components will create a more slowly melting product or which ones make it feel creamier, making a better experience for the consumer.
For her dissertation she focused on fat agglomeration, which is how fat molecules cluster together. The long-range goal of this work is to help ice cream makers produce low-fat ice cream with less gum and binder and a better mouth feel. After earning her doctorate in late 2015 it was announced in January 2016 that Dr. Warren was hired as a food scientist at ColdStone Creamery and Pinkberry, subsidiaries of Kahala Brands.
Warren worked with Research and Development teams to create new flavors and innovative products unique to each brand. In June of the same year, she co-hosted a webinar focused on ice cream and its microstructures presented by the American Chemical Society.Since that time she has used her expertise to help various ice cream manufactures improve their products and in 2023 she created her own company, IC3 CRM, which does specialized consulting in the art and science of frozen aerated desserts. The company has also produced a series of videos teaching viewers how to make their own ice cream at home.
Written by Angela Goad
Sources:
Amazing plans for ‘Amazing Race’ winner
Day in the Life of a Food Science Student
Cold Stone Creamery Parent Company Kahala Brands Names New Global Tastemaster
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