Nina is a tissue engineer at Columbia University, adjunct professor of Electrical Engineering at Cooper Union (teaching a "Bioelectricity" course), and certified yoga instructor. Her research involves the use of electrical signalling for directing cell differentiation. In parallel, she is also pursuing her interest in scientific entrepreneurship and leadership via an executive MBA at Columbia. Check out www.ninatandon.com for more info!

She began her career in telecom at Avaya Labs, designing enterprise communications software, spent one year as a Fulbright Scholar in Rome, Italy, working on an electronic nose used to "smell" lung cancer, and then completed her PhD at MIT and Columbia, studying electrical stimulation for cardiac tissue engineering. After spending a year as an associate at McKinsey, she is now continuing her research on electrical stimulation for broader tissue engineering applications.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)