Mentors

Dr. Brian Scassellati, Computer Science, Yale University: socially assistive robotics, cognitive systems, and the cognitive science of interaction, creative design to model human cognition, assistive technology studies in the home or clinic, and educational/tutoring systems projects.

Dr. Cindy Bethel, Computer Science and Engineering, Mississippi State: applications associated with robot therapeutic support, information gathering from children, and the use of robots for law enforcement, search and rescue, and military operations.

Dr. Elizabeth Phillips, Psychology, George Mason University: human interactions with robots, autonomous systems, and related technologies like augmented and virtual reality, design of robotic systems to be better partners, teammates, and companions for people in the near future, including what it means for robots to be considered human-like.

Dr. Ewart de Visser, Warfighter Effectiveness, U.S. Air Force Academy: trust in robotics and automation, the neuroergonomics of HRI, and human-machine interface design for artificial intelligence systems, experimental design for HRI studies, applied robotics field research, neural methods, and statistics.

Dr. Friederike Eyssel, Psychology, Bielefeld University: social cognition, social robotics, anthropomorphisation, technology acceptance, ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) in new technologies, gender prejudice, sexual violence, objectification.

Dr. Guy Hoffman, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell: controlled HRI experiments in the lab, qualitative analysis of interviews and video observation, planning full-cycle studies, including qualitative, exploratory studies followed by controlled laboratory experiments.

Dr. Laurel Riek, Computer Science and Engineering, UC San Diego Department of Emergency Medicine, Contextual Robotics Institute, and Design Lab: healthcare robotics, human-robot teaming, HRI design, and health equity, research framing and method selection, how to support real-world deployments of robots in homes, community centers, and hospitals, how to translate health interventions from clinic -> home and clinician -> robot, and how to engage in longitudinal research.

Dr. Selma Sabanovic, Informatics, Indiana University: design, use, and broader consequences of social robots in different organizational and cultural contexts with mixed methods, qualitative studies of HRI, including ethnography and interviews, user-centered and participatory design research in HRI, and HRI studies in naturalistic environments, including field studies and observations in homes, organizations, and other open-ended contexts.

Dr. Takanori Komatsu, Cognitive Science, Meiji University, Japan: analysis of cognitive and psychological aspects of users interacting with artifacts, laboratory experiments, and web-based investigations via crowdsourcing.

Dr. Tony Belpaeme, Internet Technology and Data Science, Ghent University, Cognitive Systems and Robotics, Plymouth University: social systems, cognitive robotics, and artificial intelligence.