Columbia BME Graduate Named to Spain’s Prestigious Nova 111 Student List

Sofia Herrero Barros, a recent MS graduate student in Columbia University’s Biomedical Engineering program, has been named to the 2025 Nova 111 Student List. This honor recognizes the top 111 university students across Spain for their academic excellence, leadership, and potential to make a global impact.

The Nova 111 list is awarded annually and offers recipients a year of free access to the Nova Talent platform. Through this, honorees can connect with influential industry leaders, innovative companies, and fellow high-potential individuals via exclusive networking events. The platform also provides tools and resources for professional development.

For Sofia, the recognition is more than a badge of honor. “Being selected is incredibly special because it's not just about grades—it's about being recognized by industry leaders and peers as someone who is actively shaping the future,” she shared. “The platform brings together students from all fields, creating a diverse network of talent that’s truly inspiring.”

Her application was bolstered by the support of Columbia faculty, most notably Professor Elizabeth Olson, who provided the reference that helped secure Sofia’s place among the Nova 111. “I’m very grateful for her encouragement and belief in my potential,” Sofia said.

A central part of Sofia’s Columbia experience was her time in the Bioelectronics Lab, led by Professor Ken Shepard. Under the guidance of Dr. William Stoy, she contributed to a project involving a microfluidic system for directed evolution—blending electronics, data processing, optics, and biology into a single innovative platform. What began as a research credit evolved into a role as a research assistant, deepening her hands-on experience in cutting-edge biomedical engineering.

Now, as part of the Nova 111, Sofia stands poised to continue shaping the future. She is continuing her work in Palo Alto working as a Research Scientist where she focuses on protein sequencing.