Learn More About Dr. Maya!

Ice Cream Scientist🍦 | The Amazing Race Winner🥇| Speaker🎤

Often described as un-bounding and contagious energy, Dr. Maya has a true zest for life shown by her positive and fun-loving attitude. She is a native of St. Louis, MO and always had a love for science and eating ice cream. She attended Rosati-Kain High School and took a liking to chemistry during her junior year. This led her to major in chemistry at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. She was inspired to pursue a career in Food Science from watching Unwrapped on Food Network and after an internship at a cereal company, she was hooked!

She obtained her PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison in Food Science in 2015 under professor Richard W. Hartel. There she found her love for the science of ice cream and other frozen aerated deserts. Her scientific expertise lies in the microstructure, behavioral, and sensorial properties of ice cream and other frozen aerated desserts. She also won the 25th season of the Emmy Award winning reality show, The Amazing Race, with her friend and former lab mate, Dr. Amy DeJong.

Since then, Dr. Maya has become a world traveler. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA and in her free time, she enjoys working out, shopping, trying new restaurants and dessert spots, and catching up with friends! She is also an advocate for self-care and treating yourself and loves giving back to inspire people to follow their passions. Currently Dr. Maya oversees Research and Development for SMiZE Cream, as the official SMiZE Cream Ice Cream Scientist. She is the creator and host of Ice Cream Sundays with Dr. Maya (Instagram Live).

Get in touch with Dr. Maya & follow her travels.