Elizabeth Bruce co-founded the MIT Big Data Initiative, an industry-sponsored research initiative focusing on developing next generation Big Data technologies. Bruce’s expertise is in identifying emerging technologies and developing industry-university-government collaborations to bridge the gap between research and commercialization. Elizabeth joined MIT CSAIL in May 2008 as Director of Industry Partnerships and established the CSAIL Industry Affiliates Program. Bruce has over a decade of experience at MIT working with faculty to launch research initiatives and develop strategic partnerships with industry covering topics in big data, mobile, multicore and cloud computing, health, manufacturing, optical communications and security. Trained as an engineer, she holds a Masters degree from MIT in Ocean Engineering and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.