My RMBL story began in a community college biology classroom in the spring of 2019. My professor at the time, Jimmy Lee, introduced our class to the undergraduate research program at RMBL as one of several opportunities that offered hands-on field experience with full financial support. “Extra experience with pay, why not?” I thought. In addition, the experience would allow me to work with animals, which I’d always dreamed of doing. I applied, even though I had never considered studying ecology.  

I was assigned to Dr. Annika Nelson’s project researching mutualism between ants and aphids. At first, I was not thrilled with the assignment, because in the mind of my 22-year-old self, ants hardly counted as animals. However, the moment I saw Gothic’s beauty, all of my dissatisfaction disappeared. The place welcomed me with the gorgeous scene of a giant green meadow under a blue sky, with snowy mountains in the background. As someone who had immigrated from Vietnam and spent most her life thereafter in Los Angeles, I had never seen snow before, and I did not know it could be that beautiful. Everything was like a painting coming to life. 

Soon I met the community: scientists who are experts in their fields, but also very humble and friendly. Not only was my project manager very helpful and patient with me, but other people at the field station were also willing to share their knowledge. I was a shy, introverted youngster who did not know how to open a conversation, but at RMBL, I learned a trick. If I asked, “What do you study?” people would open up and be willing to talk with me. 

Using that approach, I slowly learned about others’ interests and made friends — things that I never thought I would be able to do in the short time that I was there.  

RMBL is a special place to me. It is where I discovered my love for the mountains; where I learned that knowledge comes not only from textbooks, but also from the conversations we share with one another; where I realized that I could find peace within myself; and where I felt a true sense of belonging. Because of this, I sought every opportunity to return in the years that followed. Now, even when I am away from RMBL, I carry the knowledge and experiences I gained there into my everyday life. At RMBL, I grew not only as a researcher, but also as a person. 

— Nhan Nguyen

Nhan Nguyen earned her M.S. in ecology from the University of California, Davis, and her B.S. in animal science from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. At RMBL, she was part of the Van Vuren-Wells golden-mantled ground squirrel lab. Currently, she is enjoying her time as an instructor at Sierra Outdoor School in Sonora, California, teaching fourth- through sixth-grade students about the wonderful outdoors.

Top: Nhan researching squirrels at RMBL. Photo by Sam Woodward