State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Dr. Marina Singh is a research scientist working at a Minnesota based pharmaceutical company. She is sent by her company to find out what happened to a colleague who died in the Amazonian jungle at the research site.  The company hasn't heard from the research leader who happens to be Dr. Singh's former mentor, Dr. Annick Swenson. Dr. Singh is moved to travel to Brazil in hopes of bringing peace of mind to her colleague's wife as well as her own peace of mind.  Her employer would like her to find Dr. Swenson and find out if this research is going as planned since the stock holders are asking. Dr. Swenson has built a whole system of barriers to keep out the prying eyes of those who might interrupt the creative flow of the scientific method from the gatekeepers in Manaus, Brazil to her harsh manner, to the evasiveness of the other scientists on the team.