Curtis Barnes
Amesbury,MA
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Sensory Scientist
Lindt & Sprungli USA
04.2025 - Current
- Managed internal sensory panels of 135+ panelists responsible for discrimination testing, descriptive analysis, shelf-life testing, and quality assessments.
- Responsible for designing, physical set-up, systematic set-up (Compusense) of all sensorial tests.
- Responsible for training and maintenance of new and existing internal Lindt panels.
- Designed, executed, analyzed and reported consumer testing research for both new and renovated products.
- Moderated consumer focus groups.
- Moderated and managed descriptive panels.
- Partnered with Consumer Market Insights to develop strong research for new concepts and chocolate products.
- Managed summer sensory interns.
Global Sensory Coordinator
Lindt & Sprungli International
04.2025 - Current
- Led and organized monthly calls with other sensory managers internationally.
- Led process harmonization teams such to align sensory best practices and procedures across Lindt subsidiaries.
- Developed sensory and consumer research strategies for international projects
- Developed innovation strategy and sensory touchpoints
Sensory Scientist
Lindt & Sprungli USA
03.2022 - 08.2025
- Managed sensory lab maintenance, design, and sample presentation.
- Managed and maintained sensory panelists responsible for discrimination tests, shelf-life tests, and quality tests.
- Developed, executed, and analyzed consumer research for new and renovated tests (Alienation Tests)
- Led internal descriptive panels for specific projects.
- Developed and managed sensory requests systems.
Sensory Compliance Engineer
Lindt & Sprungli USA
08.2020 - 03.2022
- Supported sensory lab maintenance, set-up and execution of testing.
- Manage and maintain sensory panels responsible for discrimination tests, shelf-life tests, and quality tests.
- Developed, executed, and analyzed consumer research for new and renovated products (Home-use)
- Reviewed and and all graphics and artwork with regulatory information.
- Developed nutrition facts and ingredient statements for all new and renovated products.
- Collaborated with marketing and creative teams to offer regulatory support.
Food Safety Specialist
Lindt & Sprungli USA
04.2018 - 08.2020
- Supported preventative controls and HACCP program development.
- Provided QA support to engineering teams for new line and equipment commissioning.
- Developed strategies and procedures for new production equipment and lines.
- Supported lean manufacturing practices by leading preventative quality pillars and respective improvement teams.
Quality Assurance Technician
Lindt & Sprungli USA
06.2017 - 04.2018
- Audited production lines for quality control and food safety.
- Developed procedures for Acceptable Quality Limits (AQLs) on specific product categories.
- Lead root cause analysis for quality defects and food safety related incidents.
- Supported lean manufacturing improvement teams.
Education
Applied Sensory And Consumer Science Certification - Sensory Science
University of California Davis - CPE Program
Davis05-2021
Bachelor of Science - Food Science
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Amherst, MA05-2017
Skills
- PCQI and HACCP Certifications
- Proficient in Compusense sensory software
- Proficient in statistics analysis (ANOVA, T-tests)
- Confident Presentation and Communication
- Project Management
- Critical Thinking
- MS Office
- AI tools (Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini)
Certification
- HACCP Training for Processors (NSF)
- Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (NSF)
- Applied Sensory and Consumer Sciences (UC Davis)
Timeline
Senior Sensory Scientist
Lindt & Sprungli USA
04.2025 - Current
Global Sensory Coordinator
Lindt & Sprungli International
04.2025 - Current
Sensory Scientist
Lindt & Sprungli USA
03.2022 - 08.2025
Sensory Compliance Engineer
Lindt & Sprungli USA
08.2020 - 03.2022
Food Safety Specialist
Lindt & Sprungli USA
04.2018 - 08.2020
Quality Assurance Technician
Lindt & Sprungli USA
06.2017 - 04.2018
Applied Sensory And Consumer Science Certification - Sensory Science
University of California Davis - CPE Program
Bachelor of Science - Food Science
University of Massachusetts, Amherst