team

Dr. Eileen Roesler is a researcher in the field of human-automation interaction, with a specialized focus on the complex challenges stemming from interactions with cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robots.

Toey is a second-year PhD student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program at GMU. Her research interests focus on the effectiveness of AI explainability in joint decision-making and psychometrics in human-robot interaction.

Neha is a second-year PhD student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program at GMU. She is currently exploring the impact of embodiment on human-agent collaboration.

Hendi is a first-year PhD student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition program at GMU. She is conducting research on mobile robots in service settings and is also examining how transparency and explainability are defined and measured in human–agent interaction.

Noushin is a Ph.D. candidate in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program co-advised by Dr. Roesler, Dr. Eva Wiese, and Dr. Craig McDonald. In her project, she works on investigating what visual aspects enhance embodiment in virtual reality and if this goes along with higher (visual and affective) perspective-taking.

Rydia is a third-year PhD student co-advised by Dr. Roesler and Dr. Tyler Shaw. She is looking at how people’s perceptions of robot transparency change based on how you frame the robot as either humanlike or technical. Her dissertation research is on the IKEA effect in HRI on trust and transparency.

Becca is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Program co-advised by Dr. Roesler and Dr. Craig McDonald. She joined the HAC lab in the Fall 2024 and is investigating the neural correlates of explainable AI- specifically, how these neural signatures relate to observed errors by the AI system

Vincenzo is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program co-advised by Dr. Roesler and Dr. Matt Peterson. He is interested in the intersection of eye tracking and human-AI interaction.

Jacob is a second-year Master’s student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program at GMU and is currently working on a project on perceived danger in industrial HRI.

JP is a second-year master’s student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program at GMU. He is interested in human-agent interaction, and robot usability and safety. He is currently working on a project in the HAC lab, using the Franka Emika Panda.

Padmini is a second-year master’s student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program at GMU. She is interested in transportation, UX, neuroergonomics, and human-AI interaction. She is currently working on a project in the HBL lab and is an RA in the HAC lab. 

Lia is a second-year master’s student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program at GMU. She is interested in human-AI interaction and decision support systems. She is currently supporting eye-tracking and electrocardiogram data collection to investigate explainability in AI.

Hanna is a first-year Master’s student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program at GMU. She is currently supporting VR data collection and, in the future, is interested in exploring how human-technology interaction may facilitate decision-making.

Katarina is a fourth-year undergraduate student at GMU. She completed an undergraduate thesis co-advised by Dr. Roesler and Dr. Craig McDonald. This project was completed with Noushin and Christi. She is currently supporting VR data collection and is interested in the utilization of social robots in clinical treatment. 

Alexia is a third-year undergraduate student at GMU, advised by Dr. Roesler and Dr. Daigo Shishika. Her research focuses on developing robots inspired by animals and nature to investigate interaction quality and privacy concerns in human–robot interaction.

Sebastian is a research associate and PhD candidate at the Institute of Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics at RWTH Aachen University in Germany. As a visiting researcher at the HAC Lab, he investigates the use of physiological measures to assess explainability in human-AI interaction.

Iffat is a final-year undergraduate student at GMU in the Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Programs program, concentrating in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and Forensic Psychology, with a minor in Criminology.

Christi contributed as a graduate assistant during her Master’s studies in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program at GMU. In her research project, she investigated how the body ownership experience of a robot in VR affects the person’s ability to take the perspective and empathize with robots.