[5] Nanda was educated in science and philosophy with a PhD in biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and a PhD in science studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
[6][7] She was a John Templeton Foundation Fellow in Religion and Science (2005–2007).
She was a visiting faculty member of the department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IISER Pune[10] in 2019 and 2020.
Nanda has authored several works on religion, most notably Prophets Facing Backward: Postmodern Critiques of Science and Hindu Nationalism in India (2004),[11] and her 2009 book The God Market which examined how India is experiencing a rising tide of popular Hinduism, including government financing of Hinduism despite the nation's secular characteristic.
The book was reviewed by William Dalrymple in Outlook Magazine.