Research Team

Since August 2018 Kerstin Dautenhahn has been Canada 150 Research Chair in Intelligent Robotics at University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. She has a joint appointment in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Systems Design Engineering and is cross-appointed with the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science at University of Waterloo. She is Visiting Professor at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. At Waterloo, she is director of the Social and Intelligent Robotics Research Laboratory (SIRRL). The main areas of her research are Human-Robot Interaction, Social Robotics, Assistive Technology and Artificial Life.

Chrystopher Nehaniv is a Mathematician, Computer Scientist, Complex Adaptive Systems Researcher, and, since August 2018, Full Professor in the Departments of Systems Design Engineering and of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.

Moojan Ghafurian is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Prior to joining SYDE, she was a Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (2020-2023) and the Inaugural Wes Graham postdoctoral fellow at the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science (2018-2020) at the University of Waterloo. She got her PhD from the Pennsylvania State University in 2017, and her research interests and background are in human-computer/robot interaction, social robotics, affective computing, and cognitive science. Her research explores computational models of how humans interact with computers to inform user-centered design of socially and emotionally intelligent technologies in multiple domains, especially in healthcare and for supporting older adults, persons with dementia, and caregivers.

I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. I'm interested in applying intelligent assistive technologies to health issues.

My research interests are in the area of machine learning, control, and robotics. Now, I am working on planning and decision making in human-robot interaction.

Email: a2noormo@uwaterloo.ca
Location:E7 5406
Research Interests: Machine Learning, Robotics

I am a PhD student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. My research interests are mostly in the area of developing social and intelligent robots.

I am a PhD candidate in Systems Design Engineering Department. In my research I am borrowing from dramaturgy to design social robotic systems that can be used for fostering anti-bullying peer-support between children. I am also a Student Researcher at Robotics, Google Brian. 

My research focuses on the creation of visual capabilities for robotic platforms. Previously I have investigated anthropomorphic visual systems. Currently, I am exploring cognitive architectures that could enable robotic platforms with making memory informed vision-dominant decisions.

I am a PhD student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. My research focuses on enhancing socially intelligent agents by making them more empathic, sensitive and interactive. I am interested in creating robots that can assist individuals with their mental health, through dialogue, understanding, and companionship.

I am currently pursuing my PhD in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. My primary research focus lies in utilizing robots to assist children facing various challenges, such as autism or domestic issues.

I am a MASc student (Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence) in the Department of Electrical and Computer engineering at the University of Waterloo. I will be working on ML techniques for speech and language therapy.

I am a MASc student specializing in Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo. I hope to bring some new insights to the world of Social and Intelligent Robotics. I am particularly excited about the recent advancements in AI that will help us attain these Social objectives more and more autonomously.

I am a recent Mechatronics graduate from Ain Shams University in Egypt. With a passion for robotics, humanoids, and human-robot interactions, I have embarked on a new academic journey by joining the Spring 2023 semester for a Master of Applied Science (MASc) program.

I am a MASc student in the Department of Systems Design Engineering. I am currently researching the personalization of social robot behaviours in healthcare situations, specifically understanding how a robot's personality can impact the user experience.

My primary goal is to develop safe and secure robots capable of interacting with humans in diverse scenarios. I'm particularly interested in creating methods that enhance robot intelligence, with a focus on reinforcement learning and large language models. I'm driven by the potential of robotics to improve human life and push the boundaries of technology. You can find out more about my projects on my website.

I am an MASc student in the ECE department. I hope to leverage my hardware background and passion for user-centered design to contribute to the field of social robotics. My project focuses on using a social robot to support care for children with amblyopia. Please visit my personal website for more information.

I hold a bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Recently, I began my MASc program at the University of Waterloo, where I am focusing on the intersection of robotics and human-robot interaction. My passion lies in developing intelligent systems that can integrate into human environments.

Ella Uppal is a fourth-year Computer Engineering student at the University of Waterloo, interested in the intersection of machine learning and embedded systems. At SIRRL, her research focuses on using machine learning to monitor human-robot interactions.

Isabella Rossi is a third-year Biomedical Engineering student at the University of Waterloo working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in SIRRL. She has a keen interest in and passion for the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and healthcare. 

Harleen Khangura is a third-year Biomedical Engineering student at the University of Waterloo interested in the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics systems. Her work with SIRRL focuses on developing interactive robotic interfaces to better study user's emotional responses. 

Simrit Mangat is a second-year Systems Design Engineering student at the University of Waterloo with an interest in machine learning and human-computer interaction. As an Undergraduate Research Assistant in SIRRL, Simrit is working on developing personalized robots for users using machine learning.