Dr. Amy Kircher
Food Protection and Defense Institute
Amy is the Director of the Food Protection and Defense Institute (FPDI), a Department of Homeland Security Centre of Excellence and an Assistant Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. She leads a talented staff and co-ordinates a research consortium of experts dedicated to protecting the food system through research and education. Her current research includes identification and warning of food disruptions through data fusion and analysis. Prior to coming to the University of Minnesota, Amy held epidemiologist positions at NORAD – US Northern Command and with the United States Air Force where she worked on health informatics, biosurveillance, and data analytics. She has an extensive background in Homeland Security and Defense, supporting preparedness and response for real-world and exercise events including Hurricane Katrina and H1N1. Amy completed her doctorate in Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.