From academia to business development. Idella Yamben, PhD is currently the Program Manager for the Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC) at UW-Extension. In this role, she administers the CTC micro-grants and coordinates outreach activities to assist technology entrepreneurs in commercializing their innovations. Since graduate school, Dr. Yamben has had a passion for mentoring and training students interested in scientific careers. She developed and managed a mentoring program for undergraduates in the life sciences in collaboration with faculty and staff at the UW-Madison. Curious about career trajectories in the sciences, Mrs. Yamben took a position as a scientific recruiter for Kelly Scientific Resources. Here, she staffed entry to senior management positions for a variety of scientific companies within Wisconsin. In this role, she also managed the 2012 Career Connection program for the 2012 BioForward Vision Summit and served on the Future Scientist Internship program committee for Kelly Scientific representing the East Coast and Midwest regions. Dr. Yamben continues to mentor scientists in early career transitions and has had the opportunity to present at the Medical College of Wisconsin, University of Arkansas Medical College, and the 2011 BioForward Career Connection program.  Mrs. Yamben earned a BS in biology from University of Chicago and a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from UW-Madison.