I am a Social Roboticist, working at the intersection of Communication Science, Cognitive Psychology, and Computer Science. I am affiliated with the department of Information and Computing Sciences at Utrecht University, where I lead the REsponses To RObots (RETRO) research lab. My work investigates how humans perceive and respond to robots, especially when robots make mistakes, and how these perceptions shape trust, acceptance, and collaboration. My work has practical applications in collaborative settings, hospitality, and (child) healthcare. 

Driven by a deep curiosity about human behavior and cognition, I explore how people attribute mental states and moral standing to robots, and how these attributions influence long-term acceptance. This understanding lays the groundwork for designing socially intelligent robots that are not only technologically robust but also ethically responsive and cognitively aligned. 

Before starting at Utrecht University, I was a postdoctoral researcher at Twente University's department of Communication Science (2015-2016) and Brown University’s Humanity Centered Robotics Initiative (2017-2018). I hold a Bachelor of Business Administration in Communication Management (2005), a Master of Science in Media Communication (2011), and a PhD in Communication Science and Human-Robot Interaction (2015).