Data Physicist
Bridging Data Science and Physics to Decode the Universe
In this episode of DeanCast, Associate Professor of Data Science Dr. Cristiano
Fanelli explores what happens when artificial intelligence meets the deepest questions in physics. Describing himself as a “centaur”—half physicist, half data scientist—Fanelli shares his journey from contributing to the Higgs boson discovery to leading cutting-edge research that uses AI to probe the origins of mass and search for dark matter. He also discusses how AI-assisted experimental design, real-time detector control, and emerging physics-specific foundation models are reshaping large-scale experiments at facilities like Jefferson Lab and the upcoming Electron-Ion Collider.
From National Science Foundation and Department of Energy-funded research to collaborations with national labs and industry partners, his work highlights how the fusion of physics and AI is not only advancing our understanding of the universe, but also shaping the future of technology and scientific discovery.
This episode was posted on Feb. 18, 2026.