Student Spotlight

Sabella Rica Tilghman

Sabella Rica Tilghman is a Student Research Intern with the Desert Research Institute. Sabella started her college career in De La Salle University in the Philippines. Her family immigrated to the United States and so she postponed her undergraduate work and instead worked in hospitality management as a Catering Coordinator for Lodge on The Desert Boutique Hotel in Tucson, Arizona. She decided to return to college, and enrolled in College of Southern Nevada 2022, and transferred to Nevada State University in 2023 to pursue a Bachelor’s in Biology (Physiology). Previously, Sabella was an intern at the Ogbunu Lab at Yale University over the summer, where they studied life history traits in the T4 bacteriophage. She began interning for the Desert Research Institute subsequently (Fall 2024), and will continue to volunteer at DRI upon the end of the internship.

Sabella learned about NWRA Student Membership through fellow student Ahdee Zeidman, who told her about the poster contest at the Annual Conference. She would like to become involved as a student through volunteering her time to help conduct research and projects done by NWRA.

Sabella feels that NWRA will be able to assist with career and/or educational goals through helping educate her on the importance of water conservation and help connect with community members that are making an impact or a difference for a better tomorrow.

Sabella suggests that current students can take advantage of opportunities that NWRA offers through memberships, attending conferences, and collaborating on projects executed by NWRA. Her current advice is to collaborate and be a part of this community in hydrologic science, especially if preserving a natural resource such as water is important to them. She would encourage them to sign up and present their research in events like the annual conference to build rapport with community members.

Sabella thinks the NWRA Board of Directors can assist current and future students during their involvement with NWRA through mentorship, as it is important for personal development, so if mentorship programs were available, it could be a positive driver of success.

Welcome, Sabella! NWRA is excited to have enthusiastic students like you join the organization and look forward to seeing you at upcoming events.