Paula Martinez-Feduchi (she/her/ella) was born in Colombia and grew up in Spain. She moved to the United States to pursue bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Neuroscience from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Paula is currently pursuing a PhD in Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease (M3D) at the University of Washington. Soil-transmitted parasitic worms infect over a billion people worldwide and are a major source of disease and economic burden. Some of the populations that are most vulnerable to infection include rural communities, seasonal and migrant farm workers, and those lacking access to safe water and sanitation. Paula’s thesis work seeks to identify the neural mechanisms underlying temperature-driven host seeking in the human threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis. She hopes her work will help establish the parasitic worm thermosensory system as a novel target for therapeutic approaches and increase awareness of parasitic worm infections so patients can be empowered about their health. Outside of the lab, Paula leads and volunteers with organizations aimed at increasing student retention and interest in STEM by providing mentorship to students at various stages of their education.