Dian Zhu

Papers

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About

Dian Zhu is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and multisensory communication, with a focus on how non-visual cues shape user perceptions of social robots. Her work explores the underexamined role of olfactory and auditory stimuli in human-robot communication, particularly how scent and voice congruence can influence emotional depth and user experience. In her most cited study, "Crossmodal Interactions in Human-Robot Communication," Zhu investigates how the alignment of olfactory and auditory inputs affects perceptions of social robots—a novel contribution to the field of human-computer interaction (HCI). Though early in her career, with this paper already garnering attention, Zhu’s research opens new avenues for designing more emotionally resonant and perceptually rich robotic interfaces. Her work bridges sensory psychology and robotics, offering insights that could transform how robots are integrated into caregiving, education, and social settings. As a rising scholar, Zhu is recognized for pushing the boundaries of HCI by integrating underutilized sensory modalities, promising to deepen our understanding of crossmodal communication in human-robot relationships.