Tal Danino

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2017}}

Tal Danino is a synthetic biologist and Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University.{{cite web|title=Synthetic Biological Systems Laboratory|url=http://daninolab.nyc/}}

{{Infobox academic

| name = Tal Danino

| image =

| image_size =

| awards = TED Fellow, Department of Defense Era of Hope Scholar

| website = taldanino.com

| alma_mater = University of California, Los Angeles (B.S., 2005)

University of California, San Diego (PhD., 2011)

| thesis_title = Synthetic gene oscillators and their applications

| doctoral_advisor = Jeff Hasty

| workplaces = Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Columbia University

| discipline = Synthetic Biology

}}

Education

Danino graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with Bachelor of Science degrees in physics, mathematics and chemistry. He received a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering from the University of California, San Diego, and completed Postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.{{cite web|title=Columbia University Biomedical Engineering: Tal Danino|date=June 8, 2017 |url=http://bme.columbia.edu/tal-danino}}

Research

Danino is the director of the Synthetic Biological Systems Laboratory at Columbia University, which focuses on using synthetic biology to engineer living medicines. The lab designs gene circuits that control the behavior of microbes so that they can sense-and-respond to environments in the body, improving specificity. A primary application is the programming of bacteria as a cancer therapy, whereby microbes selectively colonize tumors and are engineered to locally produce and release therapeutics. For this work, he has received multiple awards including the NSF CAREER Award, DOD Era of Hope Scholar Award, CRI Lloyd J Old STARS Award, Pershing Prize. Tal is also a TED Fellow and his work has been summarized in TED and TED-Ed videos.{{cite web|title=Programming bacteria to detect cancer (and maybe treat it)|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/tal_danino_we_can_use_bacteria_to_detect_cancer_and_maybe_treat_it|website=TED.com|date=May 2015 }}{{cite web|title=Hacking bacteria to fight cancer|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/tal_danino_hacking_bacteria_to_fight_cancer?language=en|website=TED.com|date=December 2019}}

Art

Danino transforms living microorganisms like bacteria and cancer cells from the laboratory into bioart works using various forms of media. His works encompass many themes but often explores the relationship between humans, microbes and technology. Tal did residencies at Eyebeam, Seed, and recently was part of 7x7 (Rhizome/New Museum). His work has been featured in many media outlets such as New York Times,{{cite news|title=Gates Foundation Uses Art to Encourage Vaccination|work=The New York Times |date=January 6, 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/07/arts/design/gates-foundation-uses-art-to-encourage-vaccination.html |last1=Ryzik |first1=Melena }}{{cite news|title=At M.I.T., Science Embraces a New Chaos Theory: Art| work=The New York Times | date=March 4, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/arts/design/at-mit-science-embraces-a-new-chaos-theory-art.html?_r=0 | last1=Sheets | first1=Hilarie M. }} The Atlantic,{{cite web|title=The Devil Wears Pulsars|website=The Atlantic |date=January 29, 2015 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/01/the-devil-wears-pulsars/384902/}} and Wired magazine.{{cite magazine|title=A Beautiful Wallpaper Made With Smallpox Vaccine|magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/02/beautiful-wallpaper-made-smallpox-vaccine/ |last1=Flaherty |first1=Joe }} He has collaborated with many artists, notably Vik Muniz{{cite web |last1=Project |first1=The Creators |title=[Video] Colonies |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/colonies-turning-living-cells-into-art-blog/ |website=Vice |language=en |date=19 August 2014}} and Anicka Yi.{{cite web |last1=Stamler |first1=Hannah |title=The Sights (and Smells) of Anicka Yi's Bacteria Art Show |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-sights-and-smells-of-anicka-yis-bacteria-art-show/ |website=Vice |language=en |date=17 March 2015}} A book entitled Beautiful Bacteria (2024, Rizzoli-Electa){{cite web|title=Beautiful bacteria|url=https://www.rizzoliusa.com/book/9780847899869|website=TED.com|date=March 26, 2024}} highlights some of the microbial petri dish art he and his lab has produced.

References