Mariel Pettee

mariel.pettee@gmail.com

Physicist, AI researcher, and artist

marielpettee.com

Education
2021
2015

2014

Yale University
PhD in Physics
University of Cambridge • Trinity College
Lt. Charles H. Fiske III Harvard-Cambridge Scholar
MASt in Physics (Commendable Performance)
Harvard University
AB in Physics and Mathematics (Cum Laude, High Honors in Field)
Secondary in Dramatic Arts

New Haven, CT
Cambridge, UK
Cambridge, MA

Research Positions
2022 - Now

Guest Researcher • Flatiron Institute Center for Computational Astrophysics• Building foundation models for science with the Polymathic AI Collaboration• Supervisor: Prof. Shirley Ho2021 - Now

Chamberlain Postdoctoral Fellow • Lawrence Berkeley National Lab• Identifying stellar streams in the Gaia dataset with weakly-supervised anomaly detection• Performing an unbinned measurement of 24 Z+jets observables in the ATLAS detector• Developing GNNs for particle reconstruction in the ATLAS detector• Exploring best practices for learning likelihood ratios in physics datasets with AI• Supervisor: Dr. Benjamin Nachman

2020

AI Intern • Intel AI Lab• Using recurrent VAEs to learn latent graph representations of the human body
• Supervisor: Dr. Hanlin Tang

2016 - 2021

Graduate Researcher • Yale University & CERN
• Searching for V → leptons, H → τ τ in Run 2 with the ATLAS Experiment• Identifying tau leptons in the ATLAS trigger with Recurrent Neural Networks• Optimizing trigger & data acquisition for the Mu2e Experiment at Fermilab• Supervisor: Prof. Sarah Demers

Publications
Full list of papers with the ATLAS Collaboration. (Note: ▷ indicates alphabetical author ordering.)
2024

The ATLAS Collaboration. A Simultaneous Unbinned Differential Cross Section Measurement of
24 Z+jets Kinematic Observables with the ATLAS Detector. (Submitted to Phys. Rev. L). [CERNEP-2024-132] [arXiv:2405.20041] [hep-ex].
The ATLAS Collaboration. Evidence of the VH, H→ττ process with the ATLAS detector in Run 2.
Phys. Rev. B. [CERN-EP-2023-272] [arXiv:2312.02394] [hep-ex].

2023

S. Golkar, M. Pettee, M. Eickenberg, A. Bietti, M. Cranmer, G. Krawezik, F. Lanusse, M. McCabe, R.
Ohana, L. Parker, B. Régalo-Saint Blancard, T. Tesileanu, K. Cho, S. Ho. xVal: A Continuous Number Encoding for Large Language Models. (NeurIPS AI for Science Workshop). [arXiv:2310.02989][stat.ML].
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M. Pettee, S. Thanvantri, B. Nachman, D. Shih, M. R. Buckley, J. H. Collins. Weakly-Supervised
Anomaly Detection in the Milky Way. MNRAS. [arXiv:2305.03761] [astro-ph.GA].
S. Rizvi, M. Pettee, B. Nachman. Learning Likelihood Ratios with Neural Network Classifiers.
JHEP. [arXiv:2305.10500] [hep-ph].
V. Mikuni, M. Pettee, B. Nachman. Fast Point Cloud Generation with Diffusion Models in HighEnergy Physics. Phys. Rev. D. [arXiv:2304.01266] [hep-ph].
▷ A. Huang, X. Ju, J. Lyons, D. Murnane, M. Pettee, L. Reed. Heterogeneous Graph Neural
Network for Identifying Hadronically Decayed Tau Leptons at the High Luminosity LHC. JINST.
[arXiv:2301.00501] [physics.ins-det].
2022▷ A. Bogatskiy, S. Ganguly, T. Kipf, R. Kondor, D. W. Miller, D. Murnane, J. T. Offermann, M.
Pettee (co-editor), P. Shanahan, C. Shimmin, and S. Thais. Symmetry Group Equivariant Architectures for Physics. Snowmass 2021 White Paper. [arXiv:2203.06153] [cs.LG].
The ATLAS Collaboration. Point Cloud Deep Learning Methods for Pion Reconstruction in the
ATLAS Experiment. [ATL-PHYS-PUB-2022-040].
M. Papillon, M. Pettee, N. Miolane. PirouNet: Creating Dance through Artist-Centric Deep Learning. EAI ArtsIT 2022 (Best Paper Award). [arXiv:2207.12126] [cs.LG].
M. Papillon, M. Pettee, N. Miolane. Intentional Choreography with Semi-Supervised Recurrent
VAEs. NeurIPS 2022 Workshop on Machine Learning for Creativity and Design. [arXiv:2209.10010][cs.LG].
▷ G. Kasieczka, R. Mastandrea, V. Mikuni, B. Nachman, M. Pettee, D. Shih. Anomaly Detection
Under Coordinate Transformations. [arXiv:2209.06225] [hep-ph].

2021

M. Pettee. Interdisciplinary Machine Learning for Particle Physics. PhD Thesis, Yale University.

2020

M. Pettee, S. Miret, S. Majumdar, and M. Nassar. Choreo-Graph: Learning Latent Graph Representations of the Dancing Body. NeurIPS 2020 Workshop on Machine Learning for Creativity and Design.

2019

M. Pettee, C. Shimmin, D. Duhaime, and I. Vidrin. Beyond Imitation: Generative and Variational
Choreography via Machine Learning. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Computational Creativity. [arXiv:1907.05297] [cs.LG].
The ATLAS Collaboration (co-editor). Expected Performance of the ATLAS Detector at the HighLuminosity LHC. [ATL-PHYS-PUB-2019-005].

Talks
Invited Talks
2024

Towards Foundation Models for Fundamental Physics• NASA Science Mission Directorate AI Workshop, Huntsville, AL• 1st Large Language Models in Physics Symposium, DESY/Hamburg• Physics Division Research Progress Meeting, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory2• AI-Driven Discovery in Physics and Astrophysics Workshop, University of Tokyo• ML for HEP Workshop, KEK, Japan
What Do Language Models Have to Say About Fundamental Physics?
• UC Berkeley Bakar Institute of Digital Materials for the Planet Seminar• SLAC AI Seminar
Dancing With Myself• Pratt AI in the Humanities Symposium• CreAI: Creativity in the Age of AI, Foothill College
2023

xVal: A Continuous Number Encoding for Large Language Models• IBM Research Seminar
Interdisciplinary AI for Fundamental Physics• Hammers & Nails (Swiss Edition) – Ascona, Switzerland• Workshop on Data-Driven Galaxy Evolution – KITP & CCA
Weakly-Supervised Anomaly Detection in the Milky Way• University of Chicago Data Science Institute & James Franck Institute Seminar• Rutgers University High-Energy Physics Theory Seminar
Eqivariance Meets Invariance: Physics-Informed Machine Learning

Minneapolis, MN• American Physical Society (APS) April Meeting
2022

Machine Learning for High-Energy Physics

University of Alabama• Departmental Colloquium: Physics & Astronomy
Dancing With Myself

University of Alabama• Departmental Colloquium: Theatre & Dance
Panel Discussion: Creativity, Science, and Ethics

Ballet Des Moines

Y-Exchange Featured Artist
2021 - 2022

Interdisciplinary Machine Learning for Choreography & Particle Physics
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2020

Kinetech Arts
OnlineStanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC) AI Seminar
UC Irvine Physics & Astronomy Machine Learning Seminar Series
Imperial College London, DataLearning Working Group Seminar
Amherst College, Artificial Intelligence in the Liberal Arts Seminar Series
Cornell Laboratory for Elementary Particle Physics Journal Club
Berkeley Institute for Data Science (BIDS) ML + Science Forum
Physics Dept. Colloquium at Seattle University
HEP Seminar Speaker at University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Alabama, Machine Learning Graduate Course Guest Seminar
Flatiron Institute Center for Computational Astrophysics ML Forum

Choreo-Graph: Learning Latent Graph Representations of the Dancing Body
Kinetech Arts (San Francisco, CA)
Beyond Imitation: Generative Choreography with AI
Conference for Research on Choreographic Interfaces (CRCI)

3

OnlineBrown University

Contributed Talks
A simultaneous unbinned differential cross-section measurement of 24
Z+jets observables with the ATLAS detector
France-Berkeley PHYSTAT Conference on Unfolding

Paris, France

Using classifiers for unbinned unfolding
France-Berkeley PHYSTAT Conference on Unfolding

Paris, France

2023

Weakly-Supervised Anomaly Detection in the Milky Way
Flatiron-Wide Machine Learning Meeting

New York, NY

2022

Point Cloud Methods for Pion Reconstruction in the ATLAS Detector• Inter-experiment Machine Learning Workshop• APS April Meeting

2024

CERN
New York, NY

2021

Dancing with Myself
Strange Loop

2020

Choreo-Graph: Learning Latent Graph Representations of the Dancing Body
NeurIPS Workshop on ML for Creativity and Design

OnlineRun 3 Triggers for HLeptons Analyses
ATLAS Tau & HLeptons Workshop

Online2019

St. Louis, MO

Expected ATLAS Performance at the HL-LHC
US ATLAS Workshop

UMass Amherst

Overview of Tau vs. Jet Identification
ATLAS Tau & HLeptons Workshop

Prague, Czech Republic

Beyond Imitation: Generative Choreography via Machine Learning
International Conference on Computational Creativity (ICCC)2018

RNN Tau Identification within the ATLAS HLT
US LHC Users Association Meeting

Charlotte, NC
Fermilab

RNN Tau Identification in the ATLAS HLTATLAS Machine Learning Workshop

CERN

The 2018 ATLAS Tau Trigger & Combined Performance
US ATLAS Workshop

Pittsburgh, PA

Tau Trigger & CP Performance at High µ
ATLAS P&P Physics Plenary

CERN

FTK & the Tau Trigger
ATLAS TDAQ Week

CERN

Awards
2021
2018

2016

Owen Chamberlain Postdoctoral FellowshipLightning Round Talk Winner
Women’s Faculty Forum Seed Grant
Winner, Windy City Physics Slam

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
US LHC Users Association
Yale University
ICHEP

4

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

• PBS Chicago Interview Clip
Poster Award for Trigger Studies for the Mu2e Experiment
ICHEP
Leigh Page Prize (for potential contributions to the field of physics)
Yale University
Honorable Mention
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Harvard-Cambridge Scholarship
Harvard University• Full tuition for a master’s program at the University of Cambridge
Julia Shaffner Memorial Prize (outstanding woman in science)
Harvard University
President’s Challenge Finalist
The Harvard Innovation Lab
15 Most Interesting Seniors
The Harvard Crimson
Judges’ Award for Acting
The International Student Drama Festival
Certificate of Distinction in Teaching
Harvard University
The Caroline Isenberg and Elizabeth Cary Agassiz Fellowships
Harvard University
Best Lead Actress in a Play
Harvard Theater Award

Press
2024

A high-dimensional jet-powered measurement of the strong force, CERN Experimental Physics
Newsletter
Viewing the Standard Model with unprecedented detail through the lens of AI, Berkeley Lab Physical Sciences

2023

ATLAS measures rare Higgs boson interaction with tau leptons, ATLAS Briefing“Scientists Begin Building AI for Scientific Discovery Using Tech Behind ChatGPT”• Simons Foundation Press Release• Berkeley Lab Article

2022

Interviewee on the Cognicast podcast• A wide-ranging discussion of my research trajectory across AI, physics, and art• Episode webpage• Listen on Apple Podcasts

2021

Mariel Pettee successfully defends PhD thesis, Yale Physics

2020

Advice to Women in STEM: Mariel Pettee, Yale Scientific Magazine

2019

Feature on Yale’s Instagram page
Featured on Women+ Art AI

2016

Scientists Battle for Physics Slam Crown, PBS Chicago

2013

15 Most Interesting Seniors: Mariel N. Pettee, The Harvard Crimson

Posters2022

Point Cloud Methods for Pion Reconstruction in the ATLAS Detector
LHCP 2022

Online2020

Choreo-Graph: Learning Latent Graph Representations of the Dancing Body
Women in Machine Learning (WiML) at NeurIPS 2020

OnlineRNN Tau Identification in the ATLAS High-Level Trigger
5

CERN

ATLAS Trigger & Data Acquisition Week 2020
2019

Generative & Variational Choreography via Machine Learning
Women in Machine Learning (WiML) at NeurIPS 2019

Vancouver, Canada

Machine Woman: Preservation, Memory, Forgetting, and AI
Women’s Faculty Forum at Yale

New Haven, CT

2017

Performance of the ATLAS Tau Trigger in Run 2
Advanced Computing & Analysis Techniques in Physics Research (ACAT)

Seattle, WA

2016

Trigger Studies for the Mu2e ExperimentInternational Conference on High Energy Physics (ICHEP)

Chicago, IL

Writing
2023

LLMs and the Language of Science, APS Topical Group on Data Science Newsletter
xVal: A Continuous Number Encoding for LLMs, Polymathic AI Collaboration Blog Post

2018

Theories of Everything, Sightline Arts
Now or Never: The Case for a Larger Hadron Collider, Yale Distilled Magazine

Teaching
Guest Lectures
2023

The Language of Movement

Amherst College

Training
2016

Physics 530: Theory and Practice of Scientific Teaching for Physical Scientists

2014

Astro 302: Scientists Teaching Science

Yale University
Harvard University

Yale University
2016 - 2018

Physics 115: The Physics of Dance

2018

American Studies 349: Technologies for Movement Research2017

Physics 171: University Physics for the Life Sciences

2016

Physics 205L: Modern Physical Measurement

2015

Physics 165L: General Physics Laboratory

Harvard University
2013

Math 110: Vector Space Methods for Differential Equations

2012 - 2013

Math 121: Linear Algebra and Applications

Inclusion & Outreach Efforts
2022 - 2023

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QuarkNet Speaker & Interviewee• Presented a talk on physics, art, and ML to high school students• Answered their questions in a separate hour-long interview
2020

Member of the American Physical Society’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance (APS-IDEA)

2019 - 2021

Member of the Yale Physics Climate & Diversity Committee• Advocated for a department-wide discussion of discrimination in our community• Contributed to the design of our department’s Code of Conduct

2018 - 2020

US LHC Users Association advocacy trip to Capitol Hill
• Met with the offices of around 15 representatives from Congress each year to ask for theirsupport for high-energy physics research and STEM funding in general2017 - 2018

Speaker, Science in the News, delivering scientific talks to the New Haven publicGirls’ Science Investigations at Yale

2016

Winner, Windy City Physics Slam at ICHEP
Choreographer: Form Factors, a dance intervention with physicists at ICHEP

2015 - 2020

Yale Women in Physics Mentor

Leadership & Service
2024

Organizer for NeurIPS Physical Sciences Workshop

2019 - 2024

Reviewer for NeurIPS Physical Sciences Workshop

2017 - 2021

HLeptons Trigger Liaison: Trigger Studies for the ATLAS H → τ τ Analysis Group

2020

Session Co-Convener, PyHEP 2020 (Conference for Python in High-Energy Physics)

2019

Reviewer for Women in Machine Learning (WiML) Workshop

2014

President, The Signet Society of Arts & Letters, Harvard University

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Arts
AI & Art
2023

mememormee: an evening-length work featuring AI-generated choreography set on six dancers,
following a residency at Amherst College• Spotlight Presentation at the 2023 NeurIPS Workshop on ML for Creativity & Design

2021

Untitled Bird Project: a 1 hour pop-up exhibit featuring AI-generated bird calls situated in nature

2020

Mirror Exercise: an AI-generated duet with myself• Featured in Le Mérite, at the Comédie de Caen, Théâtre des Cordes, France.
• Highlighted in the NeurIPS Workshop on ML for Creativity and Design’s AI Art Gallery• Digital exhibition at Level Up: The Dramaturgy of Digital Performance & Design• Selected by the AI Transparency Institute & featured at the 2020 AI Governance Forum• Boston Cyberarts Gallery exhibition Perceptions / Distortions (cancelled due to COVID-19)
Studio fellow, Yale Center for Collaborative Arts & Media• Year-long paid fellowship to develop work across art & technology

2019

SIGMA: a short film of AI-generated choreography• Featured in the NeurIPS 2019 Workshop on ML for Creativity & Design’s AI Art Gallery

Live Performance
2022

Dancer, Sublimation• By Kinetech Arts.
• Supported by the Djerassi Resident Artists Program and Creative Work Fund.
• Performed at David Ruth Glass Studio, Oakland, CA.
Dancer, Detour• By Kinetech Arts, commissioned by the Berkeley Dance Project.
• Performed at Zellerbach Playhouse, Berkeley, CA.

2020

Dancer & Coordinator, Transpositions• Dancer in virtual pieces by Brian Seibert, Renee Robinson, and Elm City Dance Collective
Choreographer, Elon Musk and the plan to Blow Up Mars the musical• Yale Cabaret, dir. Liam Bellman-Sharpe
Dancer, Coordinator, & Rehearsal Director, Yale Dance Lab• New work by choreographer Vicky Shick: “everywhere”

2019

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company Intensive, Yale Dance Theater• Dancer in a restaging of D-Man in the Waters
Featured performer, Learning Film (working title)• Interviewed for a documentary by the Derek Jarman Lab, co-produced by Tilda Swinton

2018

Dancer, Dance Drawings (For Jock)• Choreography by Emily Coates located at the Yale Art Gallery’s Sol LeWitt exhibit
Paul Taylor Dance Company Intensive, Yale Dance Theater• Leading role as “The Hostess” in the first restaging of Taylor’s Party Mix in four decades
Featured performer, Machine Woman• An experiential short film documenting my AI-generated choreography research

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2017

Choreographer: “La Mort du Chorégraphe”, A Different Drum Dance Company
Urban Bush Women Intensive, Yale Dance Theater

2016

Gaga Intensive with Saar Harari & Lee Sher, Yale Dance Theater
Choreographer: “Rang Cherries”, A Different Drum Dance Company

2015

Actor, Attempts on Her Life, dir. Tania Clarke, Corpus Playroom, University of Cambridge
Dancer, Evolution, ADC Theatre, University of Cambridge

2014

Director/Writer/Choreographer: Symmetry Breaking, Farkas Hall, Harvard University• My senior physics thesis: an immersive multimedia performance about the Higgs boson
Choreographer-in-Residence, Harvard Dance Center
Dancer, Paper Wing, chor. Jill Johnson, Farkas Hall

2013

Arts@CERN Internship
Eurydice, Antigonick, dir. Ianthe Demos, American Repertory Theater Mainstage
Isabelle & Executive Producer, The Edge of the Map, dir. Calla Videt (Sightline Theater Company)
Dancer, At Last, Loeb Experimental Theater, Harvard University
Dancer, On The Run, Harvard Dance Center

2012

Vice-President & Mainstage Coordinator, The Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club
Lucy, CryHurtFood, Loeb Experimental Theater & Crucible Mainstage (Sheffield, UK)
Director: for the purpose of catching ourselves in the act of being the most
• Set the Guinness World Record for the longest telephone conversation between two people

2011

Co-founder and collaborator, The Harvard Generalist artistic collective
Drama & Dance Proctor, Harvard University Freshman Arts Program (2011-2014)9