My research lies at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). I am broadly interested in developing computational methods for transferring information and knowledge between humans and robots, to help one day achieve a mutual and beneficial human-robot relationship. This transfer can occur in the context of explainable robot behavior (robot-to-human transfer of information), assistive settings (robot helping human or human helping robot to get to a goal), or through teaching interactions (transfer of knowledge with learning or teaching robots).

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I am currently a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science at the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, as part of the Social Artificial Intelligence Group. Before joining the VU, I was a postdoctoral fellow in the Socially Intelligent Machines Lab at UT Austin. I hold a dual PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, USA, and the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in Lisbon, Portugal.  At CMU, I was part of the Robotics Institute, where I was advised by Prof. Manuela Veloso. At IST, I was part of the Group on AI for People and  Society (GAIPS), where I was advised by Prof. Francisco Melo.

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I am also a trained contemporary dancer, with a special interest in movement improvisation. (Check out the Art section for more information.) I hope one day to somehow merge my two passions for robotics and dance.