Experience

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  Department of nutrition and food sciences, texas woman's university

  May 2008 - Dec 2009

  Graduate research assistant

  • Organized sensory taste testing, evaluated master sheets and prepared reports for various research projects from food industry.• Prepared Research Grant Proposal for Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)/Texas Food and Fiber Commission (TFFC), that was successfully approved for biannual departmental funding.• Prepared Quarterly reports for TDA/TFFC funded projects.

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  Illes seasonings & flavors

  May 2009 - Aug 2009

  R&d intern

  Job duties: • Prepared various seasonings, marinades, glazes and injects for customers and tested their flavor and likeability on chicken• Operated R&D software for data entry of sample orders for customers.Formulation Experience: • Formulated a “low-sodium version” of an existing seasoning.• Formulated a “chili and taco seasoning” that matched the label and flavor of a proprietary seasoning.

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  Lily of the desert nutraceuticals

  May 2010 - Aug 2014

  “As an R&D team member, played a key role in increasing the company sales revenue by 25 million dollars.”• Managed Lab Technician and R&D Associates on R&D projects. • Performed plant scale-up trials.• Generated nutritional labels according to FDA guidelines.• Created product formulations using R&D software (Genesis).• Conducted bench-top trials to generate product prototypes.• Conducted research to identify ingredients for new product development and line extensions.• Performed shelf life studies, sensory testing, and chemical analysis to assess quality of the product throughout its shelf life. Show less

  • Product Development Scientist

    Jan 2011 - Aug 2014

  • R&D Intern

    May 2010 - Dec 2010
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  Universal nutrients

  Sept 2014 - Jul 2017

  Senior product development scientist

  • Manage all R&D projects and deliver according to assigned timelines and priorities.• Be up-to-date with consumer markets and technologies to develop new product concepts for the R&D department.• Interface with Sales, Customers, Vendors, QA, QC, Purchasing, Operations on a regular basis.• Use of Genesis and Formulator nutritional software to enter and maintain ingredients and formulas as well as generate nutritional data.• Bench-top work to develop new products, line extensions and improve existing products with better technology, processes and ingredients, in compliance with the cGMP regulations and industry standards.• Work with suppliers to source ingredients and to find formulation solutions.• Create nutritional data and ingredient list for finished product label, per FDA labeling regulations• Demonstrate products to customers.• Create internal specifications for raw materials, intermediate products, finished products as well as develop stability protocols, batch records and any essential documents that are required to take a product from R&D level to operations.• Cost formulas based on the best possible prices for raw materials from suppliers and ensure safe, high-quality and profitable products.• Test product’s physical and organoleptic properties for large scale production.• Conduct stability studies for sensory properties and nutritional claims verification for label compliance. Show less

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  Nutrabolt

  Aug 2017 - Nov 2019

  Product development manager international
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  Iovate health sciences international inc.

  Feb 2020 - Sept 2023

  Associate director, research & product development
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  Lily of the desert

  Oct 2023 - now

  Director, r&d and technical services