Her love for nature stems from her childhood, when she played in the mountains while her father worked as a geologist in the Bolivian tin mines.

In 1998, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés in La Paz, studying under noted ecologist Robin B.

[3] Her botanical research has focused on flora and vegetation in indigenous communities, particularly the native palms of the Andes and Amazonia.

In an interview in April 2020, Paniagua-Zambrana expressed concerns about entering the indigenous territories where she normally conducts her research for fears of bringing COVID-19 to local communities, and temporarily suspended her fieldwork.

[9] This award annually recognizes five women from developing countries in the field of Biology, and acknowledges their commitment in guiding young scientists and improving life in their communities and regions.