*grin* but she asked for the first thing that came to mind! which, for me, is honestly jane goodall (and i've certainly known about her since childhood, although i didn't actually want to be her). i get this image of anthropologists in safari gear in dusty tall boots, with little canvas tents, in the jungle, with chimps.

of course 'fieldwork' for folklore is more like "go down to the mall and ask four little old men to tell war stories".