Lynn Capadona didn't want to completely immerse herself in the lab after earning her PhD in Chemistry in 2004. “I have this other training that enables me to do much more,” she says.

 She’s referring to her participation in the Technological Innovation: Generating Economic Results (TI:GER®) program, which taught her how to move technologies from lab to market.

 “TI:GER® was a perfect way for me to diversify,” she says. “Having an understanding of science and how to talk to the business side was really helpful in getting jobs. It definitely jumped out at potential employers.”

 She went to work for NASA as a chemical engineer, a role employing her TI:GER® training. Part of the job involved working with outside companies interested in commercializing technology developed at NASA. “I had meetings all the time with people who needed know the best routes to take technology past the conceptual stage,” she says.

Capadona learned how to do that through TI:GER® by working with an MBA and two law students on strategies for commercializing her early-stage research on improving optical data storage technology (CD/DVD) with better materials.

While her academic advisor at Tech continues on with that line of research, Capadona continues to grow professionally at NASA. She recently transitioned into a systems engineer position allowing her to assist with the development of NASA's Crew Exploration Vehicle (Orion), which will replace the Space Shuttle.

Technology transfer is still part of her job, but she’s moved from the lab to the other end of the spectrum, focusing on issues with technology already developed. Her goal is to ensure safety and proper function of the Orion vehicle. “Before I was working on research that may or may not have turned into anything,” she says.