In this episode, biochemist Erika Ebbel describes how a mentor helped her transform into a scientist when she was 11 years old.

Produced by David Levin and Rob Chapman. Original interview by Josh Seftel and Tom Miller.

Exclusive funding for "The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers" provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Learn more at pbs.org/nova/secretlife

NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers.