Name: Isabelle Teissier
Profession: Product Development Scientist
Age: 32

What do you do for a living?
I create supplements and nutritional products that help people feel better and live healthier lives. What we eat greatly affects how we feel, especially our gut health. I take ingredients that taste bad and experiment with different flavors and sweeteners to make healthier options taste delicious! I truly believe we can make healthy eating more tasty, convenient, and accessible for everyone.

What type of training do you need to do your job?
Food science training can come from universities like UC Davis, Cal Poly, and Chapman. Unlike other degrees, food science is hands-on, with classes that let you evaluate food through taste, smell, hearing, and texture. For example, my colleague had a class project to glaze chocolate with old coffee grounds, then taste it with classmates afterward!

There are also classes in nutrition and physiology that teach you how food affects your body, especially your gut.

My career path was slightly different. I completed a four-year apprenticeship as a flavorist, learning to create flavors from scratch. This knowledge helped me in other food science areas. While I built my career at a slower pace, it was the right fit for me.

What’s your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part is seeing the final product after the first production run. After working hard for months to get the flavor, texture, and look just right, it’s amazing to see all the effort turn into something real!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
When I was growing up, I wanted to be a great food scientist like my dad. I was privileged as a child to be involved in his food science laboratory and see his “startup” company grow. At the age of 5, he let me weigh out ingredients and participate in his experiments.

What advice would you give to a kid who wants to have a similar career?
If you’re creative, think outside the box, and enjoy being hands-on, food science is a great career. Jobs can range from flavoring ice cream to making kids’ multivitamins. Here are a few possible roles:

  • A flavorist creates unique flavors like sour patch candy or cinnamon roll.
  • A food scientist uses those flavors and other skills to hide unpleasant tastes and smells from products.
  • A product development scientist manages the whole development process from idea to final product.
  • A nutritionist or human physiology expert helps people understand what foods are healthy and how they affect our bodies.

One fun fact NOT about your job?
I’m on a dance team that performs at three major events per year. Last year, we did the halftime show at an NBA game, and it was my first time performing live in front of over 10,000 fans!