Dr. Amy Kruse is a Senior Advisor working with venture funds and companies of all sizes on science, technology and innovation. Her current focus is on new ideas in neurotechnology and human performance. She is formerly the Chief Scientific Officer of Optios, an applied neuroscience research organization that translates cutting-edge neuroscience discoveries into practical tools which enhance the human experience.At Optios, Dr. Kruse built the company’s scientific vision, initiated high-value projects and completed acquisitions that resulted in a robust intellectual property portfolio for an early-stage company. Prior to joining Optios, Dr. Kruse served as the Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Cubic Global Defense, where she oversaw the company’s research and development (R&D) programs. Her efforts at Cubic dramatically accelerated and enhanced the company’s R&D capabilities, which in turn yielded an expanded product portfolio and increased sales. Dr. Kruse joined Cubic through the acquisition of Intific, a small business focused on novel game-based solutions for the DoD and Intelligence Community.Early in her career, Dr. Kruse served as a government civilian program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where she created and oversaw the Agency’s first performance-oriented neuroscience programs. Her efforts at DARPA generated scientific breakthroughs in areas that include: augmented cognition, accelerated learning, optimized imagery analysis, team neurodynamics, and neuromodulation. This work was the result of multiple programs that measurably enhanced both individual and team performance in the US military and Intelligence community.Amy is Founding Member of the Loomis Innovation Council at the Stimson Center in Washington DC, a member of the DARPA ISAT Study group and a Guest Lecturer for Singularity University. She is a frequent contributor to defense panels and advisory boards for organizations including DARPA, the National Academies and the Defense Science Board. She is also the author of numerous scientific papers, chapters, and articles.Dr. Kruse earned a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Structural Biology and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where she was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.