Ms Farnaz Baksh

Farnaz Baksh is a roboticist and researcher specialising in human-robot interaction and social robotics. She is currently a Junior Research Fellow (PhD candidate) in Computer Engineering at the University of Tartu, Estonia, where she also earned her MSc in Robotics. Her doctoral research in social-educational robotics focuses on designing open, adaptable, and ethically responsible robotic companions to support students.

Originally from Guyana, Farnaz holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Guyana, where she also founded the University of Guyana Robotics Club. She played a pivotal role in promoting STEM education across the country, serving as Team Manager and Mentor for Guyana’s national robotics teams in 2017 and 2018.

In addition to her research, Farnaz serves as a lecturer and thesis supervisor at the University of Guyana and the University of Tartu, guiding BSc/MSc students in their final-year projects. She leads the development of the open-source Robotic Study Companion project and is committed to democratising access to technology education, mentoring students internationally, and advocating for open-source collaboration across borders.