Maya Warren wants the world to know something about scientists: Were not just nerds. <\/p>\n
Warren, 29, intends to prove that on The Amazing Race. The Rosati-Kain High School graduate, who is completing her doctorate in food science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, races around the world with friend and lab mate Amy DeJong in the 25th season of the Emmy-winning reality competition, now underway on CBS. <\/p>\n
Warren and DeJong compete as the Sweet Scientists because of their specialties. Warren studies ice cream (the microstructure, behavioral and sensorial properties of frozen-aerated treats); DeJong, candy. <\/p>\n
And yes, Warrens early interest in frozen desserts was sparked in part by visits to Ted Drewes. Her on-screen tag reads Madison, Wis., but Warren is a St. Louisan through and through, explaining that she grew up in the Ferguson-Florissant area and attended grade school at the Cathedral Basilica. <\/p>\n
I always loved food, and I loved science, and I was so excited when I found out I could combine them as a career, she says. And ice cream who doesnt love ice cream? <\/p>\n
Warren had been a fan of The Amazing Race for years and had always thought she would try out some day. I imagined Id race with my future husband, but Im not married yet, so that was a problem. <\/p>\n
When she learned about an open casting call in Chicago last fall, she brainstormed with DeJong, 24, with whom she shares a lab. <\/p>\n
I was going to be in Chicago then anyway, to run the Chicago Marathon (see? not just a nerd) and I talked her into going along. We had nothing to lose, so why not? <\/p>\n
The two wrote a skit and got a tryout in which we blabbed and blabbed. They went away thinking, cool, that was fun. <\/p>\n
Casting producers moved them along. I think they liked our careers, Warren says. Theyve never had a team of women Ph.D. candidates before, and the fact that our specialties are ice cream and candy made us unique. We just had to make sure our personalities matched. <\/p>\n
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\nThe sweet science of 'The Amazing Race'<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"