what’s it all about?
In the human-agent collaboration laboratory (hac lab), Dr. Eileen Roesler and her team shed light on the multifaceted challenges that characterize the collaboration between humans and novel (embodied) agents, thereby paving the way for a more intuitive and socially conscious relationship with the technologies that will shape our future.
The hac-lab’s research consists of two main strains:
(1) human-robot interaction. This research aims explore to the dynamics that emerge when humans interact with embodied technologies. This encompasses research into the impacts of anthropomorphic robot design, trust dynamics between humans and robots, context-sensitive robot design, and even the transfer of gender stereotypes onto robots based on their assigned tasks.
(2) human-AI interaction. These studies aim to investigate how humans and learning systems collaborate. This involves exploring the concept of explainability to improve cooperation and trust between humans and AI, understanding the trust dynamics in interactions involving different agents, and designing flexible automation that adapts to varying contexts.
what do we stand for?
Our mission of the lab is dedicated to advancing research at the intersection of humans and (un)embodied agents, with the ultimate goal of enabling human–agent synergy. Central to this mission is providing students at all levels with meaningful opportunities to engage in this research and to grow as independent researchers.
Our vision is to foster a dynamic and inclusive research environment in which students grow into confident, capable researchers prepared for impactful careers. We support students in developing essential professional skills—from formulating meaningful research questions and designing and conducting experiments with high scientific rigor, to presenting and publishing this research, networking, securing funding, and communicating across disciplines. Our goal is to develop researchers who not only advance human–agent collaboration but also represent the lab with excellence and integrity within the broader research community.