My Research on HCI | Human-Computer Interaction

Do we really perceive and react differently to Embodied Artificial Intelligence than to any other technology?

With a background in Sociology and Human-Computer Interaction, I study how humans interact with new technology. My general research interests are user-centered design and evaluation studies for Human-Computer Interaction and Human-Robot Interaction with a focus on in-the-wild studies and controlled experiments. I am especially interested in the impact technology has on our everyday life and what makes people accept or reject technology.

I am an Assistant Professor at the TU Wien as a member of the  Human Computer Interaction Group led by Prof. Geraldine Fitzpatrick  (Institute of Visual Computing and Human-Centered Technology). For my research on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) I have been awarded a Hertha Firnberg (2012) and an Elise Richter grant (2017) from the FWF  Science Fund, a postdoc programme aimed at promoting the university career of young female research scientists. In 2013, I also had the honour of being selected as one of the „25 women you need to know in robotics“ by the robohub contributor group. In 2017, I was a selected speaker for Tedx TUWien. In 2018, I was elected as member of the Young Academy of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Prior to my work at the Human Computer Interaction Group, I was working in the Vision4Robotics group (ACIN – Automation and Control Institute) under the mentoring of Prof. Markus Vincze. Until 2012, I was a senior researcher and interdisciplinary team leader for a research group on „Adaptive Systems“ at the ICT&S Center, University of Salzburg (led by Prof. Manfred Tscheligi). From September 2011 until January 2012 I was on a short-term sabbatical to work with Prof. Vanessa Evers at the University of Twente, NL.

In 2022, I successfully defended my habilitation treatise and received the venia docendi for Human-Computer Interaction. In 2010, I completed my PhD in Sociology and Human-Computer Interaction at University of Salzburg and I hold a Master degree in Sociology from University of Salzburg from 2005.

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