At WPI, I lead the Socially Intelligent Robotics for Healthcare (RoboCare) Lab. My research primarily focuses on socially assistive robotics, multimodal human-robot interaction, and human-centered AI to enhance dementia care and other healthcare applications. Motivated by the needs of individuals with dementia and their families, I am dedicated to developing AI and robotic systems to better care for those affected by dementia. My work encompasses robotic perception, decision-making, and feedback mechanisms within the human-robot interaction process.

Inspired by human intelligence in caregiving, I am particularly interested in transferring aspects of human intelligence—such as emotional intelligence, social intelligence, adaptability, and personalization—to robots through AI. My research extends beyond robotic modeling and algorithms. Through close collaborations with experts and stakeholders from various disciplines, including nursing, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, social work, caregivers, and individuals with dementia, I am passionate about bringing social robots into real-world applications. Interdisciplinary collaboration is a foundational component of my research.