About
Darren Price
Professor of Particle Physics and Associate Dean for Engagement at the University of Manchester, working across particle physics, dark matter detection, quantum sensing, artificial intelligence and data-intensive scientific discovery.
I am an experimental particle physicist interested in how we discover new phenomena at the frontiers of knowledge. My work spans some of the largest scientific instruments ever built, from the ATLAS experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider to the DarkSide dark matter programme at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory in Italy, as well as emerging tabletop approaches based on quantum sensing and precision measurement.
Over the past two decades I have worked within the ATLAS, DØ and DarkSide collaborations, holding research, leadership and governance roles in international scientific programmes involving hundreds to thousands of researchers. My research has contributed to the discovery of new particles, the development of novel analysis methods, the design of new experimental searches, and the strategic development of future dark matter and rare-event detection programmes.
My route into physics began with the Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge, followed by a Master's degree in Experimental Particle Physics at Manchester and a PhD at Lancaster. I then held research positions based at Fermilab near Chicago and at CERN in Geneva, before Marie Curie, Ernest Rutherford, University Presidential and Turing Fellowships brought me back to Manchester, where I am now Professor of Particle Physics. I am originally from South Wales, and went to school at St. Joseph's Comprehensive School in Port Talbot.
What I work on
I deliberately work across several research communities rather than within a single narrow speciality. The common thread is the use of advanced instrumentation, data analysis and inference to ask what lies beyond the Standard Model of particle physics.
Dark matter and rare-event searches
A major focus of my research is the search for dark matter. This includes searches at the Large Hadron Collider and direct-detection experiments designed to observe rare interactions between dark matter particles and ordinary matter. I established Manchester's involvement in the DarkSide programme and lead several UK activities connected with DarkSide-20k, low-threshold argon detectors and future dark matter facilities.
I am particularly interested in how different experimental approaches can complement one another: high-energy colliders, deep-underground detectors, low-threshold rare-event experiments, and new quantum sensors each access different possible manifestations of the dark universe.
Collider physics
I have worked extensively on particle physics at hadron colliders, including electroweak physics, quantum chromodynamics, flavour physics, heavy neutral leptons, dark matter searches and measurements sensitive to physics beyond the Standard Model. Much of this work has taken place within the ATLAS experiment at CERN and the DØ experiment at Fermilab.
My collider research has often focused on extracting weak or unexpected signals from complex data: developing new analysis strategies, improving detector-level interpretation, and using precision measurements as discovery tools.
Quantum sensing and precision measurement
More recently, I have been developing new experimental directions based on levitated optomechanical sensors and related quantum technologies. These systems offer the possibility of probing dark matter, fifth forces, high-frequency gravitational waves and other weak, coherent or transient phenomena using small-scale precision experiments.
This work reflects a broader interest in whether carefully controlled laboratory systems can access regimes normally associated with astronomical observations or very large research facilities.
Artificial intelligence and data-intensive science
Artificial intelligence and advanced statistical inference have been central to my work for many years. As a former Alan Turing Fellow and founding Director of the STFC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science, I have led programmes connecting physics, computer science, engineering, industry and large-scale scientific data analysis.
My research applies machine learning and data-intensive methods to simulation, inference, detector optimisation, anomaly detection, rare-event discovery and AI-assisted experiment design. I am especially interested in AI-enabled instruments: experimental systems in which advanced sensing, adaptive control and real-time analysis work together to enhance scientific discovery.
Leadership, engagement and strategy
Alongside my research, I serve as Associate Dean for Engagement in Manchester's Faculty of Science and Engineering, where I lead public, civic and schools engagement strategy across the Faculty. This includes work on widening participation, public engagement, civic partnerships, engagement training, open research in schools, interdisciplinary work-experience programmes, and the development of more systematic ways to support and evaluate engagement activity.
I also contribute to national and international research strategy through roles on UKRI-STFC and Royal Society panels, university governance structures, and advisory and institutional boards within major international scientific collaborations. Previously, I directed the STFC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science, a Manchester-Lancaster-Sheffield doctoral training partnership connecting physics, astronomy, computer science, industrial placements and data-intensive methods.
Across these roles, I am interested in building systems that help people do ambitious work: developing new research directions, connecting disciplines, supporting early-career researchers, creating partnerships, and making fundamental science more open, visible and useful to society.
A wider view of science
I see fundamental physics as both a search for deep understanding and a driver of wider capability. Particle physics has always depended on collaboration across disciplines, countries, sectors and technologies. It develops new instruments, new algorithms, new ways of handling complex data, and new approaches to organising large-scale human effort.
That is the space in which I try to work: connecting frontier science with data-intensive methods, new sensing technologies, public engagement, education, and strategic leadership. The questions are fundamental, but the tools and impacts reach much further.
Biography — ready to use
For media, event organisers and agencies: three lengths, free to copy and use.
Short (~40 words)
Darren Price is Professor of Particle Physics and Associate Dean for Engagement at the University of Manchester. His work spans dark matter searches, collider physics, quantum sensing and AI-enabled scientific discovery, with leadership roles across international experiments, research strategy and public engagement.
Medium (~85 words)
Darren Price is Professor of Particle Physics and Associate Dean for Engagement at the University of Manchester. His research spans dark matter searches at the Large Hadron Collider and in deep-underground detectors, collider physics, rare-event detection, quantum sensing and AI-enabled scientific discovery. He established Manchester's direct dark matter detection programme and is developing new levitated-sensor approaches to probing dark matter, fifth forces and high-frequency gravitational waves. He also contributes to national research funding and strategy, university leadership, public engagement and interdisciplinary programme development.
Long (~200 words)
Darren Price is Professor of Particle Physics and Associate Dean for Engagement at the University of Manchester. He is an experimental particle physicist whose work spans dark matter searches, collider physics, rare-event detection, quantum sensing, artificial intelligence and data-intensive scientific discovery. Over the past two decades he has worked within the ATLAS experiment at CERN, the DØ experiment at Fermilab and the DarkSide dark matter programme at Gran Sasso, holding research and leadership roles in international collaborations involving hundreds to thousands of researchers. His work has led teams in the discovery of new particles, the development of novel analysis methods, and the design of future dark matter and rare-event detection programmes. He established Manchester's involvement in the DarkSide programme and leads UK activities connected with DarkSide-20k, low-threshold argon detectors and future dark matter facilities. More recently, he has been developing new approaches based on levitated optomechanical sensors and quantum technologies to search for dark matter, fifth forces and high-frequency gravitational waves. As a former Alan Turing Fellow and Director of the STFC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science, he has also led programmes connecting physics, AI, engineering, industry and large-scale scientific data analysis. Alongside research, he leads public, civic and schools engagement across Manchester's Faculty of Science and Engineering and contributes to national research strategy through UKRI-STFC, Royal Society and international advisory roles.
A headshot is available on request — see media enquiries.