Elizabeth Hawkins
Curaleaf, Inc.
Westfield,NJ
1
Certification
9
years of professional experience
Results-driven Food Scientist with 8+ years of experience in product innovation and formulation development across beverages and consumer packaged goods. Led commercialization efforts, collaborating with Operations, Supply Chain, and Marketing teams to ensure product viability from concept to production. Managed multiple innovation pipelines, established SOPs, and optimized processes to enhance efficiency and quality in manufacturing.
Work History
Senior Scientist
5 Months- Acted as Associate Director of Ingestibles, providing technical leadership and facilitating project prioritization and cross-functional decision-making during departmental leadership transition.
- Led ingestible product innovation portfolio as sole product developer, collaborating with executive leadership across Commercialization, Operations, Brand, and Marketing to advance new product innovation from ideation to launch.
- Designed and executed complex experiments to enhance product efficacy and safety profiles.
Scientist
2 Years 6 Months- Independently led cross-functional product development from concept through commercialization across adult-use, medical, and hemp food and beverage portfolios, coordinating external manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and internal stakeholders to achieve successful product launch.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with marketing and insights to develop gummy, candy, chocolate, and beverage products aligned with company brand and consumer preferences.
- Authored and implemented company-wide SOPs supporting sensory evaluation, allergen control, GMP compliance, and quality systems, strengthening product consistency and regulatory compliance.
- Developed and distributed regulatory labeling sheets with nutrition fact panels and specific ingredient lists for all products using ESHA Genesis, ensuring compliance with CFR.
Associate Product Development Scientist
2 Years 8 Months- Developed commercially viable formulations for ready-to-drink beverages, sauces, condiments, and functional food products from concept through commercialization, ensuring alignment with consumer preference, manufacturability, quality, and cost.
- Leveraged shelf life studies and risk assessments to advance products from concept to commercialization, including development of kids multi-serve juice beverage for national launch.
- Led formulation scale-up from benchtop prototypes through pilot and commercial production, collaborating with manufacturing and operations teams to achieve successful commercialization and maintain product quality.
- Directed international manufacturing transfer for Australia and New Zealand product lines, successfully transitioning formulations and production processes to an in-country manufacturing partner, reducing annual operating costs by approximately $1 million.
Research Associate
10 Months- Screened and maintained flavors and ingredients to support the product development team.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative research methodologies for new product development.
- Streamlined data collection processes, improving accuracy and efficiency in research reporting.
Brewery Packaging Technician and Laboratory Technician
2 Years 11 Months- Developed quality assurance and quality control programs for product manufacturing, shelf life studies, and in-house yeast strain maintenance, ensuring product consistency and reliability.
- Trained brewery staff as a tasting panel through weekly sensory tests, enhancing product evaluation and flavor profile consistency.
- Conducted routine quality checks to maintain product standards and compliance with safety regulations.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Food Science & Human Nutrition
Skills
Product Innovation
Formulation optimization
Shelf-stable products
Bench-to-production scale-up
Regulatory compliance
Food safety compliance
Cost optimization
Cross functional leadership
Scientific writing
Training and mentoring
Certification
Servesafe Certified 2017-current
Timeline
Senior Scientist
Curaleaf, Inc.
03.2025 - 08.2025Read More
Scientist
Curaleaf, Inc.
09.2022 - 03.2025Read More
Associate Product Development Scientist
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.
01.2020 - 09.2022Read More
Research Associate
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.
03.2019 - 01.2020Read More
Brewery Packaging Technician and Laboratory Technician
Geaghan Brothers Brewing Co. & Pub
04.2016 - 03.2019Read More
University of Maine
Bachelor of Science from Food Science & Human Nutrition
Read More