For a student, a summer at RMBL can be life-changing. There’s nothing like experiencing field research firsthand in one of the world’s most-studied mountain ecosystems alongside scientists at the leading edge of ecology. There’s also nothing like going to sleep after a fit of giggles.

Mammal Lab. 10 new summer residents (not including the various mice and insects that have found residence here).

Competitive in nature, the education program at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) accepts 40 undergraduate, recent graduate, or early-career graduate students to participate in a 10-week scientific research experience.

This summer I found myself making the short (compared to some) journey from Denver to Crested Butte as an undergraduate student in the research program. As my junior year of college ended and summer began, I giddily awaited any email that ended in @rmbl.org that might contain information about what summer would consist of. One such email contained information about cabin assignments and contact information for the other students assigned to Mammal Lab.

Quickly, communication via email began, each of us shyly introducing ourselves, and talk of creating a group chat began. Thus, the “Mammal Lab 🏠” group chat was born, and slowly, as we got to know each other better, honest questions and nervous quips began flooding my messages.

As all 10 of us moved in, conversation easily flowed, and orientation week brought about many laughs, new experiences, and connections.

Soon enough, as everyone settled and found their unique place within RMBL, our schedules became more populated, classes started, and first days in the field were completed. Some Mammal Lab friends and I found ourselves in the Rocky Mountain Ecosystems class with Kaysee Arrowsmith, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas. Our class, a small amalgamation of students from across the country, from various backgrounds, all researching related things — plants, pollinators, or stream ecology.

Field days looked quite different for everyone. RMBL has around 175 different field site locations in and around Gothic, Colorado. Just outside Crested Butte sits the unincorporated community of Almont. The Almont Triangle State Wildlife Area is where Nick Dabagia (PhD student at the University of Arizona) and I have been looking at how long-term nitrogen deposition affects plant floral traits at the community level.