Dr Mary Ellen Foster she/her

My research passion lies at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI), socially intelligent systems, and multimodal communication. I am fascinated by how robots and embodied agents can engage naturally and meaningfully with people, using speech, gesture, and other communicative channels to create rich interactive experiences. My group focuses on designing, implementing, and evaluating interactive robotic systems that blend AI, robotics, linguistics, and cognitive science. We conduct both technical development and user studies in real-world settings to understand how people perceive and interact with robots.

I am eager to form collaborations across disciplines including computer science, psychology, linguistics, ethics, and social sciences, aiming to create robotic systems that are not only technically robust but socially aware and ethically grounded. I am especially interested in projects that explore the societal impact of robotics, digital inclusion, and accessible technology.

In terms of interdisciplinary research, my group works on projects ranging from multimodal dialogue systems and embodied conversational agents to studying user experiences and ethical implications of human-robot interaction. I welcome PhD projects that cross boundaries—combining AI, social science, and human-centered design to address real-world challenges in healthcare, education, or social inclusion.