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Looking to nature for medicines has fascinated Paula Florez since she was a schoolgirl in Bogota, Colombia.

“In the ocean there are cone snails - marine gastropods with venom that prey on fish,” she says. “I take the venom and try to find molecules that can be used to treat pain – how molecules interact with the central nervous system. It can help find something in lieu of opioids to relieve pain.”

A high school soccer player, she was recruited by ������Ƶ. “I loved it; it was a great fit. I lived in the capital of Colombia, and coming to a small town and small school was very different. When you’re completely new to another culture – from food to culture to language – being in a small place was crucial.”

Her experience as a Resident Advisor helped, she says: “If you want to learn about American culture, you are an RA for freshmen.”

After earning her degree in chemistry at ������Ƶ, Florez planned to do research and teach. She chose Utah in part for its beauty. “And after ������Ƶ I was looking for a sense of community. Utah is a big school, but it had that feel, and it had the academics. I was interested in nature products discovery, and the University of Utah has one of the best in the world.”

������Ƶ’s young alumni are making their mark on the world through their work in science and healthcare, finance and business, industry, entertainment and service to those in need. The Fall/Winter 2019 edition of ������Ƶ’s Forward magazine featured 30 of these alumni, all under the age of 30. You can find all of their stories here on ������Ƶ’s site (just look for the “30 Under 30” icon).