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 first-year PhD student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program at GMU. Her current research interests involve explainability in human-AI interaction and psychometrics in human-robot interaction.

Neha is a first-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.

Noushin is a Ph.D. student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program at GMU co-adviced by Dr. Roesler 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 second-year PhD student co-advised by Dr. Tyler Shaw and Dr. Eileen Roesler. 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 will be 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 at GMU co-adviced 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

Hendi is a second-year Master’s student in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program at GMU. She is working on research syntheses on transparency and explainability in human-AI interaction.

Vincenzo is a recent graduate of the M.A. program in Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience at George Mason University. He is interested in human-agent interaction and psychometrics and works together with Noushin and Christi on their projects.

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

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.

Katarina is a third-year undergraduate student at GMU working on her Honors Thesis. Long-term, she is interested in learning about utilizing social robots for clinical treatment.

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.

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.