Daniel Stein is a physicist renowned for his tenure in the Physics department at The University of Arizona, where he served as Professor of Physics from 1993 to 2005 and Head of the Department from 1995 to 2005. He also held an appointment as Professor of Mathematics from 1997 to 2005 and progressed from Associate Professor of Physics (1987–1993) at the institution. Stein's academic foundation includes a Sc.B. in Physics from Brown University (1975), an M.S. in Physics from Princeton University (1977), and a Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Theory from Princeton University (1979), advised by P.W. Anderson. Earlier positions at Princeton encompassed Research Associate (1979–1980), Instructor (1980), and Assistant Professor of Physics (1980–1987). Subsequently, he became Professor of Physics and Mathematics at New York University (2005–present) and Dean of Science there (2006–2012).

Stein's research focuses on condensed matter theory, spin glasses, complex systems, disordered systems, stochastic dynamics, and related topics in statistical physics and biology. His prolific scholarship features key books such as Spin Glasses and Complexity with C.M. Newman (Princeton University Press, 2013) and edited volumes including Lectures in the Sciences of Complexity (Addison-Wesley, 1989), 1990 Lectures in Complex Systems with L. Nadel (1991), Spin Glasses and Biology (1992), 1991 Lectures in Complex Systems with L. Nadel (1992), 1992 Lectures in Complex Systems with L. Nadel (1993), 1993 Lectures in Complex Systems with L. Nadel (1994), and Pattern Formation in Complex Systems with F. Nijhout and L. Nadel (1997). Prominent papers include “Boojums in Superfluid ³He-A and Cholesteric Liquid Crystals” with R.D. Pisarski and P.W. Anderson (Phys. Rev. Lett., 1978), “Models of Hierarchically Constrained Dynamics for Glassy Relaxation” with R.G. Palmer, E. Abrahams, and P.W. Anderson (Phys. Rev. Lett., 1984), and “Spin Glasses” (Scientific American, 1989). Awards include the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship (2014–2015), Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2008), Fellow of the American Physical Society (1999), University of Arizona College of Science Distinguished Teaching Award (1995), and Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (1985–1989). Stein's impact is evident in editorial roles (e.g., Advances in Condensed Matter Physics board, 2008–), Santa Fe Institute leadership (External Professor, 2018–; Science Board; Complex Systems Summer Schools director, 1988–1998), and workshops on disordered systems.